HSTR is a terminal-based shell history browser for Bash and Zsh. It provides an interactive suggest box for finding and reusing commands from your local history without repeatedly stepping through entries with Ctrl-R.
The interface filters history as you type and is designed for quickly recalling long or infrequently used commands. HSTR can also curate the history itself: favourite commands can be bookmarked, unwanted entries removed and commands containing sensitive information deleted before they are reused by mistake.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Interactive terminal interface for browsing, filtering and selecting commands from shell history.
- Works with both Bash and Zsh and can emit configuration snippets for each shell.
- Searches command history as text is entered, reducing the need to remember an exact command.
- Ranking is designed to surface useful history entries rather than simply presenting commands in file order.
- Favourite commands can be bookmarked for faster retrieval.
- Individual history entries can be removed directly from the interface.
- Useful for deleting obsolete commands, accidental commands and entries containing sensitive data.
- Supports command tags for organising and locating frequently used commands.
- Can be bound into the shell so the selected command is inserted directly at the prompt for editing or execution.
- Configuration is available through environment variables and generated shell setup.
- Runs in a terminal and does not require a graphical desktop environment.
Website: github.com/dvorka/hstr
Support:
Developer: Martin Dvorak
License: Apache License 2.0
HSTR is written in C and C++. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Shell tools | |
|---|---|
| fzf | Command-line fuzzy finder for your shell |
| zoxide | Smarter cd command, inspired by z and autojump |
| broot | Reviewed under our Excellent Utilities series |
| McFly | Also reviewed under our Excellent Utilities series |
| z | Maintains a jump-list of the directories you actually use |
| autojump | Offers a fast way to navigate your filesystem |
| z.lua | Helps you navigate faster by learning your habits |
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| jmp | The superior cd |
| gump | Smarter cd command |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| Alternatives to history | |
|---|---|
| McFly | Excellent replacement for Bash’s ctrl-r functionality |
| Atuin | Replaces your existing shell history with a SQLite database |
| HSTR | Bash and zsh shell history suggest box |
| Bevel | Command line history in an SQLite database |
| hiSHtory | Better shell history |
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