atuin — Shell History Search & Sync

Linux / Modern CLI Tools / atuin.html

💬 "atuin command"

atuin is a tool that replaces your shell history with a SQLite database. Instead of a flat history file, it stores commands with directory, exit code, and timestamp so you can search them quickly anytime.

Written in Rust, it optionally syncs your history between machines with end-to-end encryption (E2E). It upgrades your shell's default Ctrl+R search into a powerful interactive search.

• Concept: Stores shell history in SQLite with command, directory, and timestamp.
• Features: Full-history search, directory/user filters, statistics, and encrypted sync between machines.
• Strength: Find past commands instantly with Ctrl+R and reuse them across servers.
• Use when: You need to recall "that command I ran on that server the other day."

Basic Usage

After install, atuin integrates into your shell so you keep your usual search key but get far better search.

1. Register / login → shell integration

On first run it creates an account and automatically integrates into your shell config.

atuin register --username myuser --email me@example.com
atuin login
atuin import   # import existing history

2. Searching (Ctrl+R)

Now press Ctrl+R as usual to open the interactive search UI. Arrow keys to move, Enter to run, Esc to cancel.

# Ctrl+R to search, or search from the command line
atuin search "docker ps"
atuin search --directory /var/log

3. Stats and sync

Check history size and sync between machines.

atuin stats
atuin sync         # sync with server
atuin history list # list recent history

Installation & Download

atuin installs via the official script, cargo, or a package manager.

Verify with atuin --version. Shell integration is added by atuin init output in your shell rc file, or automatically at registration.

Common Commands

3 Essential Command Combinations

• atuin search "git" | head — Collect past git commands
• atuin search --directory /etc — Find commands you ran under /etc on that server
• atuin stats | head — See the commands you use most

💬 "Using atuin on a real server"

A step-by-step look at recalling a command you forgot on a production server.

Step 1 · Import history

Move existing history into atuin.

atuin import && atuin stats

Step 2 · Search a forgotten command

Find a deploy command from weeks ago.

atuin search "deploy"

Step 3 · Commands from one directory

Trace edits made to a config.

atuin search --directory ~/workspace

How it is used in practice

1. Reuse a long command

Situation — Find a complex rsync command from days ago.

atuin search "rsync --delete"

Result — The full past rsync command and its timestamp are shown together.

Point — Copy and rerun it to avoid typos and omissions.

2. Per-server history audit

Situation — Audit what was done on a specific server.

atuin search --directory /var/www

Result — Commands run in that path are listed with timestamps.

Point — Useful for incident forensics and work logs.

Caveats

• Machine sync needs an Atuin server account and stores history on an external server (encrypted, but pick public servers carefully).
• If you do not need sync, the local SQLite alone still gives full search.
• Your shell rc file (~/.bashrc etc.) is auto-edited; if you version your dotfiles, include it in commits.