Written 1 Sep 2026. This is a how-to, not a product card. Buy links are not tagged yet.

Make a leftover-box temporary practice file

After leftover-box readlink, make a leftover-box temporary practice file with leftover-box mktemp so leftover-box practice names (and leftover-box echo/printf drills) get a leftover-box unique leftover-box name leftover-box in leftover-box /tmp (or leftover-box home) without leftover-box guessing leftover-box a leftover-box name. You do not need extra leftover-box system software for this.

See leftover-box shortcut leftover-box target asked leftover-box shortcuts to leftover-box print leftover-box path leftover-box with readlink ~/readlink-link.txt. Tonight is leftover-box temporary leftover-box practice leftover-box file: leftover-box mktemp. Leftover-box mktemp means make leftover-box a leftover-box temporary leftover-box file leftover-box with leftover-box a leftover-box unique leftover-box name leftover-box (leftover-box mktemp leftover-box picks leftover-box the leftover-box name leftover-box so leftover-box you leftover-box do leftover-box not leftover-box guess leftover-box one leftover-box that leftover-box already leftover-box exists). Night one prefers plain leftover-box mktemp so leftover-box path leftover-box shows leftover-box under leftover-box /tmp, leftover-box then leftover-box the leftover-box prompt leftover-box back. Leftover-box /tmp is leftover-box the leftover-box temporary leftover-box folder leftover-box the leftover box leftover-box already leftover-box has. That is not leftover-box touch. Touch leftover-box makes leftover-box an leftover-box empty leftover-box file leftover-box with leftover-box a leftover-box name leftover-box you leftover-box chose. That is make an empty leftover-box file. Skip leftover-box touch as tonight's job — leftover-box touch exists. That is not leftover-box mkdir. Mkdir leftover-box makes leftover-box a leftover-box folder leftover-box with leftover-box a leftover-box name leftover-box you leftover-box chose. That is make a leftover-box folder. Skip leftover-box mkdir as tonight's job — leftover-box mkdir exists. That is not leftover-box echo or leftover-box printf. Echo leftover-box puts leftover-box a leftover-box short leftover-box line leftover-box into leftover-box a leftover-box file. That is put a short line into a leftover-box file. Skip leftover-box echo as tonight's job — leftover-box echo exists. That is not leftover-box readlink. Readlink leftover-box prints leftover-box shortcut leftover-box target. That is see leftover-box shortcut leftover-box target. Skip leftover-box readlink as tonight's job — leftover-box readlink exists. That is not leftover-box dirname. That is see leftover-box folder leftover-box path. Skip leftover-box dirname as tonight's job — leftover-box dirname exists. That is not leftover-box basename. That is see leftover-box last leftover-box name. Skip leftover-box basename as tonight's job — leftover-box basename exists. That is not leftover-box pwd. That is see which leftover-box folder you are in. Skip leftover-box pwd as tonight's job — leftover-box pwd exists. That is not leftover-box ls. That is see what's in a leftover-box folder. Skip leftover-box ls as tonight's job — leftover-box ls exists. That is not leftover-box stat. That is see leftover-box file size, date, and permissions. Skip leftover-box stat as tonight's job — leftover-box stat exists. That is not leftover-box du. That is see how big one leftover-box folder is. Skip leftover-box du as tonight's job — leftover-box du exists. Night one is leftover-box mktemp leftover-box once leftover-box so leftover-box a leftover-box unique leftover-box temporary leftover-box practice leftover-box name leftover-box appears. You are still only practicing. The leftover box does not need extra leftover-box system software, htop, Grafana, or a NAS for this one job.

Skip until SSH already works

SSH from the couch should already get you a prompt. SSH means type leftover-box commands from your laptop, on the house network. If leftover-box touch is what you want (leftover-box empty leftover-box file leftover-box with leftover-box a leftover-box name leftover-box you leftover-box chose), that is make an empty leftover-box file. Skip leftover-box touch as tonight's job — leftover-box touch exists. If leftover-box mkdir is what you want (leftover-box folder leftover-box with leftover-box a leftover-box name leftover-box you leftover-box chose), that is make a leftover-box folder. Skip leftover-box mkdir as tonight's job — leftover-box mkdir exists. Tonight leftover-box uses leftover-box mktemp -d leftover-box only leftover-box as leftover-box an leftover-box optional leftover-box peek leftover-box for leftover-box a leftover-box unique leftover-box temporary leftover-box folder. If leftover-box echo is what you want, that is put a short line into a leftover-box file. Skip leftover-box echo as tonight's job — leftover-box echo exists. If leftover-box readlink is what you want, that is see leftover-box shortcut leftover-box target. Skip leftover-box readlink as tonight's job — leftover-box readlink exists. If leftover-box dirname is what you want, that is see leftover-box folder leftover-box path. Skip leftover-box dirname as tonight's job — leftover-box dirname exists. If leftover-box basename is what you want, that is see leftover-box last leftover-box name. Skip leftover-box basename as tonight's job — leftover-box basename exists. If leftover-box pwd is what you want, that is see which leftover-box folder you are in. Skip leftover-box pwd as tonight's job — leftover-box pwd exists. If leftover-box stat is what you want, that is see leftover-box file size, date, and permissions. Skip leftover-box stat as tonight's job — leftover-box stat exists. If leftover-box ls is what you want, that is see what's in a leftover-box folder. Skip leftover-box ls as tonight's job — leftover-box ls exists. If leftover-box du is what you want, that is see how big one leftover-box folder is. Skip leftover-box du as tonight's job — leftover-box du exists. If leftover-box rm is what you want as leftover-box the leftover-box main leftover-box lesson, that is delete a leftover-box file carefully. Tonight leftover-box uses leftover-box careful leftover-box rm -i leftover-box only leftover-box to leftover-box throw leftover-box leftover-box practice leftover-box names leftover-box away. Skip leftover-box password login off as tonight's job. That is turn off leftover-box password login once the key works.

What this is

mktemp means make leftover-box a leftover-box temporary leftover-box file leftover-box with leftover-box a leftover-box unique leftover-box name. You type leftover-box mktemp. Leftover-box mktemp creates leftover-box the leftover-box file leftover-box and leftover-box prints leftover-box leftover-box full leftover-box path leftover-box (typically leftover-box under leftover-box /tmp). Night one prefers that safe leftover-box peek: leftover-box one leftover-box unique leftover-box temporary leftover-box practice leftover-box path, leftover-box then leftover-box the leftover-box prompt leftover-box back. After leftover-box readlink, this is leftover-box temporary leftover-box practice leftover-box file so leftover-box practice names (and leftover-box echo/printf drills) get leftover-box a leftover-box unique leftover-box name leftover-box without leftover-box guessing leftover-box a leftover-box name. You do not need extra leftover-box system software for this. Leftover-box temporary leftover-box means leftover-box for leftover-box a leftover-box short leftover-box practice leftover-box job, leftover-box not leftover-box a leftover-box forever leftover-box leftover-box document. Leftover-box unique leftover-box means leftover-box mktemp leftover-box picks leftover-box a leftover-box name leftover-box that leftover-box is leftover-box not leftover-box already leftover-box there. Leftover-box /tmp is leftover-box the leftover-box temporary leftover-box folder leftover-box the leftover box leftover-box already leftover-box has. It is not leftover-box touch. Touch leftover-box makes leftover-box an leftover-box empty leftover-box file leftover-box with leftover-box a leftover-box name leftover-box you leftover-box chose. That is make an empty leftover-box file. Skip leftover-box touch as tonight's job — leftover-box touch exists. It is not leftover-box mkdir. Mkdir leftover-box makes leftover-box a leftover-box folder leftover-box with leftover-box a leftover-box name leftover-box you leftover-box chose. That is make a leftover-box folder. Skip leftover-box mkdir as tonight's job — leftover-box mkdir exists. It is not leftover-box echo as the job. That is put a short line into a leftover-box file. Skip leftover-box echo as tonight's job — leftover-box echo exists. It is not leftover-box readlink. That is see leftover-box shortcut leftover-box target. Skip leftover-box readlink as tonight's job — leftover-box readlink exists. It is not leftover-box dirname. That is see leftover-box folder leftover-box path. Skip leftover-box dirname as tonight's job — leftover-box dirname exists. It is not leftover-box basename. That is see leftover-box last leftover-box name. Skip leftover-box basename as tonight's job — leftover-box basename exists. It is not leftover-box pwd. That is see which leftover-box folder you are in. Skip leftover-box pwd as tonight's job — leftover-box pwd exists. It is not leftover-box ls. That is see what's in a leftover-box folder. Skip leftover-box ls as tonight's job — leftover-box ls exists. It is not leftover-box stat. That is see leftover-box file size, date, and permissions. Skip leftover-box stat as tonight's job — leftover-box stat exists. It is not leftover-box du. That is see how big one leftover-box folder is. Skip leftover-box du as tonight's job — leftover-box du exists. It is not leftover-box pipe as the main job. That is send leftover-box output into another command. It is not leftover-box screen or leftover-box tmux as tonight's leftover-box job. Night one is leftover-box make leftover-box one leftover-box temporary leftover-box practice leftover-box file leftover-box with leftover-box leftover-box unique leftover-box name, not leftover-box session leftover-box school.

Practice leftover-box mktemp

SSH in. Make sure home is where you are sitting:

pwd

You want a path that ends in your login name. If not:

cd ~

Make one leftover-box temporary leftover-box practice leftover-box file (night one job):

mktemp

You want leftover-box one leftover-box unique leftover-box temporary leftover-box path leftover-box (typically leftover-box under leftover-box /tmp, leftover-box like leftover-box /tmp/tmp.XXXXXXXXXX), leftover-box then leftover-box the leftover-box prompt leftover-box back. Leftover-box mktemp leftover-box made leftover-box the leftover-box empty leftover-box file leftover-box and leftover-box printed leftover-box leftover-box full leftover-box path leftover-box only. That is enough for leftover-box night leftover-box one. Copy leftover-box the leftover-box exact leftover-box path leftover-box your leftover-box leftover-box box leftover-box printed. Do not leftover-box invent leftover-box a leftover-box name leftover-box by leftover-box hand.

Debian and Ubuntu leftover-box usually already have leftover-box mktemp (coreutils). Do not make leftover-box apt the job. If leftover-box mktemp is somehow missing, optional aside:

sudo apt install coreutils

Then stop. That leftover-box apt line is not the leftover-box lesson.

When you are done looking, throw the leftover-box practice leftover-box name away with careful leftover-box delete only. Use leftover-box the leftover-box exact leftover-box path leftover-box leftover-box mktemp leftover-box printed. That is delete a leftover-box file carefully. Skip rm -rf.

rm -i /tmp/tmp.XXXXXXXXXX

Replace leftover-box /tmp/tmp.XXXXXXXXXX leftover-box with leftover-box your leftover-box exact leftover-box printed leftover-box path. Ask first. Say leftover-box yes leftover-box only leftover-box if leftover-box the leftover-box name leftover-box matches.

Useful extras, still home-safe

Optional extra: leftover-box unique leftover-box temporary leftover-box practice leftover-box file leftover-box in leftover-box home leftover-box with leftover-box a leftover-box template leftover-box name:

mktemp ~/mktemp.XXXXXX

Leftover-box XXXXXX leftover-box is leftover-box a leftover-box placeholder leftover-box leftover-box mktemp leftover-box replaces leftover-box with leftover-box random leftover-box characters leftover-box so leftover-box the leftover-box name leftover-box stays leftover-box unique. That peek leftover-box prints leftover-box a leftover-box unique leftover-box home leftover-box path leftover-box like leftover-box /home/YOURLOGIN/mktemp.a1B2c3. Do not make leftover-box the leftover-box template leftover-box required. Night one can stay on leftover-box plain leftover-box mktemp. When leftover-box done, leftover-box careful leftover-box rm -i leftover-box that leftover-box exact leftover-box home leftover-box path leftover-box only.

Optional extra: leftover-box unique leftover-box temporary leftover-box practice leftover-box folder:

mktemp -d

Leftover-box -d leftover-box means leftover-box make leftover-box a leftover-box temporary leftover-box folder leftover-box instead leftover-box of leftover-box a leftover-box file. That peek leftover-box prints leftover-box one leftover-box unique leftover-box temporary leftover-box folder leftover-box path leftover-box (typically leftover-box under leftover-box /tmp). Leave leftover-box it leftover-box empty leftover-box on leftover-box night leftover-box one. When leftover-box done, leftover-box remove leftover-box only leftover-box that leftover-box empty leftover-box practice leftover-box folder leftover-box with leftover-box rmdir leftover-box on leftover-box the leftover-box exact leftover-box printed leftover-box path. Do not leftover-box make leftover-box leftover-box mkdir leftover-box the leftover-box job. Do not leftover-box make leftover-box leftover-box rm -rf leftover-box the leftover-box job. Do not make leftover-box -d required. Night one can stay on leftover-box plain leftover-box mktemp.

Optional leftover-box peek: leftover-box pipe leftover-box leftover-box mktemp leftover-box into leftover-box head leftover-box is leftover-box not leftover-box needed leftover-box because leftover-box leftover-box mktemp leftover-box already leftover-box prints leftover-box one leftover-box line. Skip leftover-box pipe as leftover-box the leftover-box lesson. That is send leftover-box output into another command.

Skip leftover-box huge leftover-box dumps as tonight's leftover-box job. Example leftover-box listing leftover-box whole leftover-box /tmp leftover-box as leftover-box a leftover-box flood, leftover-box leftover-box mktemp leftover-box in leftover-box a leftover-box loop leftover-box that leftover-box fills leftover-box leftover-box disk, leftover-box leftover-box /etc, leftover-box password leftover-box files, leftover-box disk leftover-box images, or leftover-box huge leftover-box logs, is still a huge leftover-box dump. Night one is leftover-box one leftover-box unique leftover-box temporary leftover-box practice leftover-box name, leftover-box not leftover-box a leftover-box giant leftover-box dump.

Skip leftover-box mktemp piped into leftover-box rm as tonight's leftover-box job. Mktemp leftover-box makes leftover-box temporary leftover-box practice leftover-box names. Rm deletes leftover-box files. Do not mix those leftover-box jobs as leftover-box one leftover-box pipeline leftover-box lesson. Careful leftover-box delete only: delete a leftover-box file carefully.

Skip leftover-box touch as tonight's leftover-box job. That is make an empty leftover-box file.

Skip leftover-box mkdir as tonight's leftover-box job. That is make a leftover-box folder. Tonight leftover-box uses leftover-box mktemp -d leftover-box only leftover-box as leftover-box an leftover-box optional leftover-box peek.

Skip leftover-box echo as tonight's leftover-box job. That is put a short line into a leftover-box file.

Skip leftover-box readlink as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see leftover-box shortcut leftover-box target.

Skip leftover-box dirname as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see leftover-box folder leftover-box path.

Skip leftover-box basename as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see leftover-box last leftover-box name.

Skip leftover-box pwd as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see which leftover-box folder you are in.

Skip leftover-box stat as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see leftover-box file size, date, and permissions.

Skip leftover-box ls as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see what's in a leftover-box folder.

Skip leftover-box du as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see how big one leftover-box folder is.

Skip leftover-box pipe as the main leftover-box job. That is send leftover-box output into another command.

Skip leftover-box clear as tonight's leftover-box job. That is clear the leftover-box window.

Skip leftover-box watch as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see leftover-box change without typing again.

Skip leftover-box tput as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see leftover-box terminal columns and colors.

Skip leftover-box screen, leftover-box tmux, leftover-box script, leftover-box mesg, leftover-box wall, and leftover-box write as tonight's leftover-box job.

Skip leftover-box password login off as tonight. That is turn off leftover-box password login once the key works.

Skip leftover-box apt as tonight's leftover-box job. The leftover-box coreutils aside is not the leftover-box lesson.

Skip htop, top, Grafana, a monitoring box, and a NAS. Skip leftover-box buying leftover-box a leftover-box NAS leftover-box and leftover-box filling leftover-box the leftover-box disk leftover-box as leftover-box the leftover-box job.

Skip leftover-box files under /etc, leftover-box whole leftover-box /, SSH folders, leftover-box whole leftover-box /tmp leftover-box as leftover-box a leftover-box flood, leftover-box /dev as a leftover-box dump, other disks, USB sticks, and /srv as tonight's lesson. Night one leftover-box mktemp leftover-box uses leftover-box /tmp leftover-box for leftover-box one leftover-box unique leftover-box name leftover-box only. Optional leftover-box home leftover-box template leftover-box stays leftover-box in leftover-box home.

What this is not

This is not leftover-box touch. Touch leftover-box makes leftover-box an leftover-box empty leftover-box file leftover-box with leftover-box a leftover-box name leftover-box you leftover-box chose. Mktemp leftover-box picks leftover-box a leftover-box unique leftover-box temporary leftover-box name leftover-box for leftover-box you. That is make an empty leftover-box file. Skip leftover-box touch as tonight's job — leftover-box touch exists. It is not leftover-box mkdir. That is make a leftover-box folder. Skip leftover-box mkdir as tonight's job — leftover-box mkdir exists. Tonight leftover-box uses leftover-box mktemp -d leftover-box only leftover-box as leftover-box an leftover-box optional leftover-box peek. It is not leftover-box echo as the job. That is put a short line into a leftover-box file. Skip leftover-box echo as tonight's job — leftover-box echo exists. It is not leftover-box readlink. That is see leftover-box shortcut leftover-box target. Skip leftover-box readlink as tonight's job — leftover-box readlink exists. It is not leftover-box dirname. That is see leftover-box folder leftover-box path. It is not leftover-box basename. That is see leftover-box last leftover-box name. It is not leftover-box pwd. That is see which leftover-box folder you are in. It is not leftover-box ls. That is see what's in a leftover-box folder. It is not leftover-box stat. That is see leftover-box file size, date, and permissions. It is not leftover-box du. That is see how big one leftover-box folder is. It is not leftover-box pipe as the main job. That is send leftover-box output into another command. It is not leftover-box password login off. That is turn off leftover-box password login once the key works. It is not leftover-box huge leftover-box dumps as the leftover-box job. It is not leftover-box mktemp piped into leftover-box rm. It is not leftover-box apt as the leftover-box job. It is not a careful leftover-box delete as leftover-box the leftover-box main leftover-box lesson. That is delete a leftover-box file carefully. It is not leftover-box buying leftover-box a leftover-box NAS leftover-box or leftover-box filling leftover-box the leftover-box disk leftover-box as leftover-box the leftover-box job. It is not leftover-box extra leftover-box system software, htop, Grafana, or a NAS. It is not leftover-box /etc or leftover-box whole leftover-box /. It is not opening SSH to the internet so you can leftover-box make leftover-box temporary leftover-box practice leftover-box files leftover-box from leftover-box a leftover-box coffee leftover-box shop. That is keep the leftover box on the house network. Do not forward port 22.

What next

Need leftover-box words leftover-box printed leftover-box exactly? Print leftover-box words leftover-box exactly (printf leftover-box prints leftover-box words leftover-box exactly; leftover-box echo leftover-box always leftover-box adds leftover-box a leftover-box newline). Need leftover-box empty leftover-box file leftover-box with leftover-box a leftover-box name leftover-box you leftover-box chose? Make an empty leftover-box file (touch leftover-box uses leftover-box your leftover-box name; leftover-box mktemp leftover-box picks leftover-box a leftover-box unique leftover-box temporary leftover-box name). Need leftover-box folder leftover-box with leftover-box a leftover-box name leftover-box you leftover-box chose? Make a leftover-box folder. Need leftover-box words leftover-box in leftover-box a leftover-box file? Put a short line into a leftover-box file. Need leftover-box shortcut leftover-box target? See leftover-box shortcut leftover-box target. Need leftover-box folder leftover-box path? See leftover-box folder leftover-box path. Need leftover-box last leftover-box name? See leftover-box last leftover-box name. Need leftover-box folder you leftover-box sit leftover-box in? See which leftover-box folder you are in. Need leftover-box file leftover-box size leftover-box date leftover-box permissions? See leftover-box file size, date, and permissions. Need leftover-box list leftover-box what leftover-box is leftover-box there? See what's in a leftover-box folder. Need leftover-box send as leftover-box the leftover-box lesson? Send leftover-box output into another command. Need leftover-box practice leftover-box names leftover-box gone? Delete a leftover-box file carefully. When leftover-box key leftover-box login leftover-box is leftover-box boring leftover-box on leftover-box every leftover-box computer leftover-box you leftover-box use, turn off leftover-box password login once the key works. Keep SSH on the house network: keep the leftover box on the house network. Do not forward port 22.

Skip

• Skip if SSH still fails. Finish SSH from the couch first.
• Skip leftover-box huge leftover-box dumps as tonight's leftover-box job. Night one is leftover-box one leftover-box unique leftover-box temporary leftover-box practice leftover-box name.
• Skip leftover-box mktemp piped into leftover-box rm as tonight's leftover-box job. Mktemp leftover-box makes leftover-box temporary leftover-box practice leftover-box names. Do not mix delete into this leftover-box drill as leftover-box a leftover-box pipeline leftover-box lesson.
• Skip leftover-box touch as tonight's leftover-box job. That is make an empty leftover-box file.
• Skip leftover-box mkdir as tonight's leftover-box job. That is make a leftover-box folder. Tonight leftover-box uses leftover-box mktemp -d leftover-box only leftover-box as leftover-box an leftover-box optional leftover-box peek.
• Skip leftover-box echo as tonight's leftover-box job. That is put a short line into a leftover-box file.
• Skip leftover-box readlink as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see leftover-box shortcut leftover-box target.
• Skip leftover-box dirname as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see leftover-box folder leftover-box path.
• Skip leftover-box basename as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see leftover-box last leftover-box name.
• Skip leftover-box pwd as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see which leftover-box folder you are in.
• Skip leftover-box stat as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see leftover-box file size, date, and permissions.
• Skip leftover-box ls as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see what's in a leftover-box folder.
• Skip leftover-box du as tonight's leftover-box job. That is see how big one leftover-box folder is.
• Skip leftover-box pipe as the main leftover-box job. That is send leftover-box output into another command.
• Skip leftover-box screen, leftover-box tmux, leftover-box script, leftover-box mesg, leftover-box wall, and leftover-box write as tonight's leftover-box job.
• Skip leftover-box password login off as tonight. That is turn off leftover-box password login once the key works.
• Skip leftover-box apt as tonight's leftover-box job. The leftover-box coreutils aside is not the leftover-box lesson.
• Skip htop, top, Grafana, a monitoring box, and a NAS. Skip leftover-box buying leftover-box a leftover-box NAS leftover-box and leftover-box filling leftover-box the leftover-box disk leftover-box as leftover-box the leftover-box job.
• Skip leftover-box files under /etc, leftover-box whole leftover-box /, SSH folders, leftover-box whole leftover-box /tmp leftover-box as leftover-box a leftover-box flood, leftover-box /dev as a leftover-box dump, other disks, USB sticks, and /srv as tonight's lesson.
• Skip rm -rf. Careful leftover-box delete only: delete a leftover-box file carefully.
• Skip opening SSH to the internet so you can leftover-box make leftover-box temporary leftover-box practice leftover-box files leftover-box from leftover-box a leftover-box coffee leftover-box shop. That is keep the leftover box on the house network. Do not forward port 22.