Nifty app offers expanded access to terminal history

Reusing Previous Commands with the Bash History Suggest Box

© Lead Image © lightwise, 123RF.com

© Lead Image © lightwise, 123RF.com

Article from Issue 164/2014
Author(s):

You can always browse the Bash history using your arrow keys, but Bash's search capabilities are very limited. Enter the clever Bash History Suggest Box.

When you are working at the command line, you often need to repeat or slightly modify previously entered commands. Most experienced users know they can browse the Bash history quite simply by pressing the up and down arrows at the command line, then pressing the left and right arrows to move the text cursor.

Fewer users know that you can also search the Bash history by pressing Ctrl+R and then typing; the shell automatically retrieves the first matching result. Continuing to press Ctrl+R jumps from match to match until you find the command you are seeking.

Bash keeps track of all the commands typed at the command line in the ~/.bash_history file, and you can view the file with the history command (Listing 1).

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