mjhjmtu

We all know that !! can repeat the last command you do in bash.

But sometimes we need to do some operation like

$ python test.py
$ vim test.py

$ python test.py # here is where I need to repeat the second proximate bash command

I can use up-arrow key to do that, but that requires me to move my right hand away to an uncomfortable position. So I'm wondering if there is a command which like !! would work?

You can use !-2:

$ echo foo
foo
$ echo bar
bar
$ !-2
echo foo
foo

That may not help with your right-hand situation.

You can also use !string history searching for this sort of case:

$ python test.py
$ vim test.py
$ !py
python test.py # Printed, then run

This may be more convenient to use. It will run:

the most recent command preceding the current position in the history list starting with string.

Even just !p would work. You can use !?string to search the whole command line, rather than just the start.

!-2

More fun is available. Say you want to keep operating on a file (as above, where you're using test.py, repeatedly):

cp foo.py thing.py
edit $_
python $_
!-2
^thing^foo

• Copy an existing file to thing.py
  


• Edit (vim, emacs - though why you'd be using a command line if you were running Emacs-OS, I have no idea) thing.py - the last word in the previous command line


• python thing.py


• Edit thing.py
  


• Edit foo.py
  

History manipulation is such fun. Try man history. Note that the quest to re-use history can result in typing far more than the command itself would. The final command substitution, where I replace thing.py by foo.py is one such example. Fewer characters to just type in the command and name. :)

The history substitution is also why you get strange messages when you try:

$ echo "This is a disaster!"
-bash: !": event not found

The exclamation mark is being consumed as a history reference, and it can't find a previous command with a double quote.