Atuin is a shell history manager that replaces your existing shell history with a SQLite database and provides optional encrypted synchronization across machines.
The tool solves the problem of fragmented and limited shell history by storing commands in a structured database that captures additional context beyond the command text itself, including exit code, duration, working directory, hostname, and session information. It rebinds the standard history search keybindings (ctrl-r and up arrow, both configurable) to a full-screen search interface that lets you filter history by current session, directory, or globally. Commands can be executed directly from search results or edited before execution. The tool preserves your old history file and can import from it, so switching involves no data loss.
Atuin supports zsh, bash, fish, nushell, xonsh, and PowerShell across different platform tiers. The synchronization feature is fully optional and fully encrypted, meaning history can be synced between your machines either through Atuin's hosted server or a self-hosted instance, with the guarantee that encrypted data cannot be read by the server. If you prefer not to sync at all, the tool works as a local-only history database. This makes it suitable for anyone frustrated with shell history limitations, whether you work across multiple machines or just want richer command context and better search.
The project maintains active development with regular updates and a visible community presence across multiple channels including a dedicated forum, Discord server, and IRC. The codebase is written in Rust and passes continuous integration checks. The tool is distributed through standard package managers and the Rust crates registry, making installation straightforward across supported platforms.
