>

Better Shell History With atuin

Search a structured history database and optionally sync it between machines.

macOSsearchshellcliLow risk
Run atuin search <query> to find past commands by text or directory.

01Command

Command
$ atuin search git

02What it does

atuin imports your shell history into SQLite and records exit code, duration and working directory with each command. Its TUI filter and sync feature make history far more useful than the default Ctrl-R, and it can be bound to Ctrl-R via shell init.

03Risk

RiskLow risk
CompatibilitymacOS with Homebrew installed
!Warning: History often contains secrets; if you enable sync, review which commands are uploaded.

04Undo

✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.

05Sources

  • Homebrew formula: atuin
    Homebrew · vendor-doc · 2026-09-20
    Evidence: Packages atuin, which stores shell history in a database with search and sync.

Last verified: 2026-09-22 · Category: Developer

06Related solutions

Query Spotlight's Raw Syntax with mdfind
macOSmetadatasearchmdfind

Use kMDItem attributes to search file metadata the Spotlight UI can't express, faster than find ever will.

Low risk ✓ 2026-09-17