Atuin
Open-source tool that stores shell history in SQLite with search and optional cross-machine sync.
Commenters use it daily as a fuzzy Ctrl-R search for shell history1234, valuing history shared across tabs and machines567 and directory-aware search.89 The main caveat is that some find it heavier than they want, citing lag, AI features and the desktop direction101112, while others dislike sending history to a sync server they don't control.13
Why people recommend it
Daily driver · 3
Several commenters say they use it constantly and love it.
“I use the CLI tool multiple times a day (sometimes hour) and I just want to thank the team for making my life easier.”
“I've been using Atuin for a while and I love it.”
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“I love atuin -- the shared shell command memory function solves a problem that I had”
Fuzzy Ctrl-R · 3
Replaces Ctrl-R and history | fzf with fuzzy history search.
“for fuzzy shell history (ctrl+r)”
“I use atuin a lot, and before that history | fzf.”
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“a custom atuin config so Ctrl-r is usable”
Shared history · 3
Shares commands across open tabs and splits, and can sync history across machines.
“I use atuin for the shell history as it seems to know when I've run a command in one tab/split while another is open”
“I love atuin -- the shared shell command memory function solves a problem that I had”
Show 1 more
“Atuin seemed like an interesting way to sync shell history across machines.”
Context search · 2
Records the working directory and exit status for each command, so you can filter history by directory or project.
“In my case, I use Atuin.”
“I tried Atuin before and liked it, but the idea of a background service sending my command history to servers I don't control never sat well with me.”
Speed · 2
Users report it is snappy and has unlimited history; an in-memory index speeds up fuzzy search.
“I use atuin (https://atuin.sh/) and am reasonably happy with it, especially the infinite capacity & snapiness”
“So Atuin actually runs postgresql on the server only”
Easy setup · 1
One user says it needs much less configuration than maintaining custom history files.
“Nowadays, I've just offloaded that to atuin [atuin], which I install from brew or with cargo binstall. Much less configuration”
Caveats and dissent
Bloat · 3
Some see it as heavier or more feature-laden than they want, including AI features, shortcut overrides and a desktop app.
“It felt so laggy and buggy ~1 year ago.”
“while mcfly is lighter, it also has a narrower feature scope”
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“Atuin seemed like an interesting way to sync shell history across machines.”
Lag and bugs · 1
One user found it laggy and buggy about a year earlier and switched away.
“It felt so laggy and buggy ~1 year ago.”
Privacy · 1
One commenter was uneasy about history being sent to servers they don't control, and noted it is venture-backed.
“I tried Atuin before and liked it, but the idea of a background service sending my command history to servers I don't control never sat well with me.”
Space-prefixed commands · 1
It skips commands that start with a space, and one user says this is not configurable.
“I love atuin but it, by default, skips commands starting with space.”
Often compared with
From the makers not counted in the ranking
“We convert to the native format. Our goal is to capture and convert as much data as we can.”
Threads where it came up
- Atuin’s New Runbook Execution Engine 4 mentions
- Ask HN: What dev tools do you rely on that nobody talks about? 3 mentions
- Atuin Threads: All your agent sessions on every machine 2 mentions
- Stinkpot: SQLite-Backed Shell History 2 mentions
- Faster command recall with substring search 1 mention
- Tracking down a Zsh history data loss bug 1 mention
Also written as atuin. Data: atuin.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 20
“I've been using Atuin for a while and I love it.”
“Nowadays, I've just offloaded that to atuin [atuin], which I install from brew or with cargo binstall. Much less configuration”
“It felt so laggy and buggy ~1 year ago.”
“I tried Atuin before and liked it, but the idea of a background service sending my command history to servers I don't control never sat well with me.”
“I use atuin a lot, and before that history | fzf.”
“In my case, I use Atuin.”
“I use atuin (https://atuin.sh/) and am reasonably happy with it, especially the infinite capacity & snapiness”
“I use atuin.”
“So Atuin actually runs postgresql on the server only”
“while mcfly is lighter, it also has a narrower feature scope”
“for fuzzy shell history (ctrl+r)”
“a custom atuin config so Ctrl-r is usable”
“I love atuin but it, by default, skips commands starting with space.”
“The PTY proxy looks pretty neat! Excited to give that a try.”
“I like using atuin[1]”
“I use atuin for the shell history as it seems to know when I've run a command in one tab/split while another is open”
“Ive been wanting to give this a try.”
“I use the CLI tool multiple times a day (sometimes hour) and I just want to thank the team for making my life easier.”
“Atuin seemed like an interesting way to sync shell history across machines.”
“I love atuin -- the shared shell command memory function solves a problem that I had”