Mastering Linux Command Line History

Table of Contents

• Navigate Command History
• Using Ctrl+R to search history
• history | grep
• Rerun previous command that starts with the prefix
• Misc tips about search history

Navigate Command History

Bash uses [readline] (https://linux.die.net/man/3/readline), man readline{,bash} to check the default shortcuts. - Use arrow up/down to navigate command history

Using Ctrl+R to search history

• press ctrl-r repeatedly to cycle through the matches.

  Partial Search

• To use up and arrow for partial search, add the following at ~/.inputrc

## arrow up
"\e[A":history-search-backward
## arrow down
"\e[B":history-search-forward

• Some command line tools may use editline, to use up and arrow for partial search for these tools, add the above configuration at ~/.editrc
  • man editline

history | grep

Rerun previous command that starts with the prefix

• !the_prefix

Misc tips about search history

• ctrl-x -> ctrl-e opens the current command in an editor for multi-line editing
• Better Bash History
• The Awesome .bashrc File