Check command history, but avoid running it

!whatever:p
!whatever will search your command history and execute the first command that matches 'whatever'. If you don't feel safe doing this put :p on the end to print without executing. Recommended when running as superuser.

196
By: jonty
2009-02-05 21:39:39

What Others Think

not working on my ubuntu machine or mac.
cowholio4 · 817 weeks ago
Pressing +r then start typing the command will show you live updates of the history as you type. You can also use the up and down arrows to find the one your looking for.
pkkid · 817 weeks ago
@cowholio4: i got it working with both ubuntu and os x; you did not actually type in !whatever:p did you?
p3k · 817 weeks ago
Works on Opensuse 11, very cool!
Williebee · 816 weeks and 5 days ago
looklike it works, but may be batter to cat .bash_history? or I`d just not understand the true meaning of this thing
GreyCardinal · 816 weeks and 4 days ago
Oh! understood! ubuntu 8.10 -works debian etch - no -:(
GreyCardinal · 816 weeks and 3 days ago
@p3k hahah.... thanks. Still i prefer control + r
cowholio4 · 815 weeks and 4 days ago
I can only think that the :p means "just kidding about re-executing it" :)
Buzzcp · 807 weeks and 4 days ago
ctrl+r works better and everywhere.
oringo · 804 weeks and 4 days ago
... or you could just set histverify ("shopt -s histverify") and be done.
akg240 · 787 weeks and 2 days ago
On ubuntu also: history|grep whatever That will show every time in your history file the command has been called rather than just the last time.
magikid · 769 weeks and 1 day ago
Agree with C-r
Erus · 760 weeks and 1 day ago
use bash lusers! pkkid is right!
buzzy · 753 weeks and 3 days ago
To those who say Ctrl-R works everwhere, try running Ctrl-R on csh/tcsh, or ksh, Ctrl-R only works on bash and Z shell. While !search:p works on many more, also it is more continent to type a simple command in than to use a shell feature, as you can use it in a string of commands.
Chartreuse · 751 weeks and 5 days ago
function hg(){ history | grep $1; } Then "hg command" will print all previous commands
quincymd · 747 weeks and 3 days ago
it works fine like this: 1. type echo hello then you have it in your history. now you can type: !echo and you get "echo hello" in your commandline with the cursor at the end, so you can edit it before you commit it or you press ^C to cancel very useful!
rubo77 · 728 weeks and 2 days ago
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xafanih532 · 16 weeks and 5 days ago

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