Why Linux's 'cat' Command Is Misused and What to Use Instead

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The 'cat' command, one of the first tools Linux users learn, was originally designed in 1971 by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie to concatenate multiple files into a single stream — not to view individual files. Despite this, decades of tutorials have entrenched 'cat' as a default file viewer, a habit that causes real problems in production environments. When used on large log files or piped unnecessarily into other commands, it can freeze terminals, waste CPU cycles, and add kernel overhead. Modern CLI alternatives offer advantages like syntax highlighting, git-aware context, and better performance for interactive file inspection. Understanding the original purpose of 'cat' and adopting purpose-built tools can significantly improve how developers and administrators work on the Linux command line.

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