The author discusses the efficiency and power of searching shell history using tools like Ctrl-r and fzf/skim to save time and reduce errors. The ability to quickly recall previous commands and utilize fuzzy matching greatly improved productivity in the Unix terminal. The author shares their experience transitioning from zsh to fish and back to zsh, emphasizing the impact of using these tools on their shell command usage. They also provide insights on customizing the UI to display more relevant information, like command timestamps. Overall, the post highlights the significant productivity boost that tools like Ctrl-r and fzf/skim can offer to Unix users. Some may benefit from exploring alternative tools like Atuin or skim for further enhancements.
https://tratt.net/laurie/blog/2025/better_shell_history_search.html