Enhancing efficiency with history
Command Line – Bash History
© Photo by Federico Di Dio photography on Unsplash
The versatile Bash history command can save you time and effort at the command line.
If you work in a terminal, you've likely used Bash's history command to save yourself the trouble of retyping a command [1] (Figure 1). However, if you're like most people, your use of history may have been confined to scrolling through the list of previously used commands. If all you are interested in are the most recently used commands, the arrow keys may be all that you need. However, the history command is capable of doing much more and in an economical way – especially if you have a good memory. You can start by adjusting history's environmental variables and then learn how to modify history entries for easier searching and for repurposing them using three types of editing options: event designators, word designators, and modifiers. The flexibility of all these options can be combined so that, with a little memorization, you can make the Bash history work for you to save time with minimal effort.
Environmental Variables
The history commmand has several environmental variables. All are added or modified in .profile or .bashrc in your home directory, depending on the distribution. The size of the history file is limited by HISTSIZE, which sets the number of entries in the history, and/or by HISTFILESIZE, the maximum memory to allot for the history. Both have similar structures:
HISTSIZE=NUMBER HISTFILESIZE=NUMBER
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.