Bash history tips

bash_history_tips.md

Bash history tips

Run the last command again

!!

Check history

history

Run specific history command

!319

Repeat the last command but replace something

^searchString^replaceString^

or

!!:s/searchString/replaceString/

or search the whole command instead of first occurrence

!!:gs/old/new/

History tricks

make a directory then move into it:

mkdir -p $HOME/temp/dir
cd !$ 

!$ is shorthand for "the last word from the previous command". If I wanted to pick the third word out of the previous command, that would be: !!:3 (don't forget there is a zeroth word).

For example:

# Print first word (the command) of the last command
echo !!:0

Run the last command that contained string

Easily re-run the last command that contains a certain word:

!?restart
!?tail

Search history with CTRL-R

Press CTRL-R to search history with dynamic autocomplete