Written 29 Aug 2026. This is a how-to, not a product card.

Ask a command what it does

After SSH works, ask a command what it does with --help so you can read the short cheat sheet without leaving the window. Optional man for the longer page. You don't need a software store for this.

See where a command lives told you if the tool is installed. Tonight you only need one more answer: what flags does it take? Most tools print a short cheat sheet when you add --help. You are still only looking. The computer does not need a desktop, a software store, or a new mini PC for this one job.

Skip until SSH already works

SSH from the couch should already get you a prompt. If you only need to know whether the tool exists, that is see where a command lives. If you only need names in a folder, that is see what's in a folder. Skip this whole note if you only need a house share other computers browse. That is a folder the house can open.

What this is

--help means "print the short cheat sheet." You can keep calling it "what does this do." You type the tool name, then two dashes and the word help. The computer prints a short page of options, then drops you back at the prompt. It is not installing anything. It is not a web search. It prints the tool's own short options list. Some older tools only answer to -h. Try --help first.

Ask a practice command for its cheat sheet

SSH in. Pick a tool you already used. ls is a safe first try:

ls --help

You want a short flood of lines: usage at the top, then flags like -l and -a. That is the cheat sheet. You don't need to memorize it. Glance, then press Up and edit the real command.

Try the editor next:

nano --help

You want a short page about nano. If you see command not found, install only that one tool, then try again:

sudo apt install nano

Then:

nano --help

If a tool ignores --help, try the short form:

ping -h

Careful: on some tools -h means something else. On ls, -h means human-readable sizes, not help. When the short form looks wrong, stick with --help.

Useful extras, still looking only

Need the longer manual for one night?

man ls

Space pages forward. b goes back. q leaves. Same keys as read a file one screen at a time. If man itself is missing, install the manuals once:

sudo apt install man-db

Stick with --help. It is shorter, and you stay at the prompt when it finishes.

Confirm the tool exists before you ask it for help:

command -v ls

A path means go. A blank window means install that one tool first. That is see where a command lives.

When the cheat sheet is long, page it:

ls --help | less

Space turns the page. q leaves. Same idea as reading a long file. That bar is send output into another command.

When you are done looking, you don't need to delete anything. This note only prints text.

What this is not

This is not a search for whether the tool is installed. That is see where a command lives. It is not a dump of a file. That is read a file without opening the editor. It is not flipping back through lines you already typed. That is reuse a command you already typed. It is not installing a package store or a "software center." One missing tool is sudo apt install for that one name. It is not a house share other computers browse. That is a folder the house can open.

What next

Need to hand the cheat sheet to another command? Send output into another command. Need to park command print in a file? Save output to a file. Need to know if the tool is even there? See where a command lives. Need the editor after the cheat sheet pointed at a flag? Edit a file from the couch. Need names in a folder again? See what's in a folder. Need to flip back through lines you already typed? Reuse a command you already typed. When a house job broke, look at the computer's own diary: when something broke, look at the log. When key login is boring on every computer you use, turn off password login once the key works. Keep SSH on the house network: keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.

Skip

Skip if SSH still fails. Finish SSH from the couch first.
Skip buying a software store, Softaculous, or a new mini PC because one cheat sheet looked long. Glance, then try the real command.
Skip deep info pages, apropos, and installing every -doc package tonight. --help is enough for the first look.
Skip copying random flags from a blog into /etc just because the cheat sheet listed them. Practice only on tools you already met.
Skip SSH settings, /etc/shadow, and anything under /etc/ssh. Looking at trusted laptop keys is see which laptop keys the computer already trusts.
Skip opening SSH to the internet so you can read help pages from a coffee shop. That is keep the computer on the house network.

Sources

GNU coreutils: common options (including --help). Debian: man. Ubuntu: man. Official pages only. For the login, see SSH from the couch. For whether the tool exists, see see where a command lives. For paging a long dump, see read a file one screen at a time. For reusing a typed line, see reuse a command you already typed.

Also on this topic

SSH from the couchType commands on the computer from your laptop, on the house network. Password login first. Don't open this to the internet. See where a command livesAfter SSH works, ask where a command lives with command -v so you know if nano or python is installed before you chase a missing package. You don't need a software store for this. Reuse a command you already typedAfter SSH works, flip back through commands with the Up arrow or history. You don't need a notebook for the same long line twice. Read a file one screen at a timeAfter SSH works, open a file with less so a long file does not flood the window. Space turns the page. q leaves. You don't need a file viewer app for this. Send output into another commandAfter SSH works, send output into another command with | so a long dump does not flood the window. You don't need a file manager app for this. See what's in a folderAfter SSH works, list the folder you are sitting in with ls. You don't need a file manager app for this. Edit a file from the couchAfter SSH works, open a file with nano, change a line, and save. The keys at the bottom of the screen are the whole trick. You don't need a new editor. Turn off password login once the key worksAfter the laptop key login is boring, tell SSH to stop accepting the password. The key is how you get in. A keyboard on the computer is the backup now.