What has been your experience with Atuin? Is it something worth using?
from notanapple@lemm.ee to linux@lemmy.ml on 27 Feb 2025 02:38
https://lemm.ee/post/56743494

For context Atuin (Github) is a shell history replacement that apparently provides a lot of extra functionality.

Has anyone used it? Im thinking of switching to it but Im worried about its impact on performance and if its worth it.

#linux

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eager_eagle@lemmy.world on 27 Feb 2025 02:43 next collapse

Atuin*

I just sync my bash history with dotfiles and use FZF for recalling it. I’m not sold on it.

Also, the same history on different machines would be something I definitely do NOT want. I heavily rely on recent history to re-run commands on different machines with different projects and configurations. Mixing all that would be a mess.

notanapple@lemm.ee on 27 Feb 2025 02:44 next collapse

yep 😄 just edited it

notanapple@lemm.ee on 27 Feb 2025 02:51 collapse

But what about the other features?

(tbf looking at the github I don’t see anything special but I have been seeing people using it swear by it so Im wondering what Im missing)

eager_eagle@lemmy.world on 27 Feb 2025 03:00 collapse

Things I already have:

  • rebind ctrl-r and up (configurable) to a full screen history search UI
  • old history file is not replaced

Things I could find useful once in a while:

  • switch filter modes via ctrl-r; search history just from the current session, directory, or globally

Things I don’t care about and probably wouldn’t use:

  • back up and sync encrypted shell history
  • log exit code, cwd, hostname, session, command duration, etc
  • calculate statistics such as "most used command"
  • quick-jump to previous items with Alt-<num>
  • enter to execute a command, tab to edit

I really don’t want:

  • the same history across terminals, across sessions, and across machines

Not really a feature:

  • store shell history in a sqlite database
notanapple@lemm.ee on 27 Feb 2025 03:20 collapse

thanks for the comprehensive answer!

cheerytext1981@lemmy.ca on 27 Feb 2025 03:02 next collapse

it’s great, I use it all the time. I run my own server and sync history between my work and personal laptops. If I need history for a specific project, I filter by the workspace (or whatever it’s called)

mike_wooskey@lemmy.thewooskeys.com on 27 Feb 2025 03:04 next collapse

I don’t have any experience with Atuin, but I use and love hstr for similar features.

acow@programming.dev on 27 Feb 2025 04:08 next collapse

Have used it for a while, it’s great. I don’t want sync between machines, so I just use it as a better local history. It works well, and switching scopes of history so easily is terrific. I do wish the querying / fuzzy matching was a little smarter, but I’ve not seen anything better.

SmokeInFog@midwest.social on 27 Feb 2025 04:37 next collapse

I love it. I turn off sync but it’s just a much better command history tool

Uebercomplicated@lemmy.ml on 27 Feb 2025 07:00 next collapse

It’s better than any built-in history tools (including zsh and fish) and I find the sync feature very useful. It’s definitely saved me time in having to re-find old commands I used once. Probably the second best quality-of-life tool for the shell after zoxide (a brilliant cd replacement).

dino@discuss.tchncs.de on 27 Feb 2025 09:21 collapse

I would like to use it specifically for the sync between machines, because ridicolous terminal commands like with find, grep or checking/comparing used storage volumes is abysmal to remember. I also set up my own server which worked quite well, I just wish the “client” installation as a proper debian package instead of this stupid shell script.