How to access & use command histories

history.md

bash

Default behaviour

• history shows numbered command history, most recent last
• !n retrieves command number n and executes it
• !n:p retrieves command number n and places it into the command history without executing it. Up arrow then retrieves the command for editing

shopt

• shopt -s histverify modifies command recall behaviour so that !n just retrieves the command and does not execute it (ie allows for editing before execution)

ipython

Default behaviour

• %history displays command history from current session without line numbers

Options

• -n Include line numbers
• -g pattern search for pattern (wild cards: ? single character, * multiple characters). As -g searches through full history (not just the current session), an empty -g modifier can be used to retrieve complete command history
• -f filename output history to file