lasantosr/intelli-shell

Like IntelliSense, but for shells

Source code at GitHub https://lasantosr.github.io/intelli-shell/

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  "topics": [
    "autocomplete",
    "bash",
    "bookmark",
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    "rust-lang",
    "terminal",
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IntelliShell

Like IntelliSense, but for shells!

IntelliShell is a powerful command template and snippet manager for your shell. It goes far beyond a simple history search, transforming your terminal into a structured, searchable, and intelligent library of your commands.

Works on Bash, Zsh, Fish, Nushell, and PowerShell, with standalone binaries for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

![intelli-shell demo]!(docs/src/images/demo.gif)

Features

Seamless Shell Integration: Search with ctrl+space, bookmark with ctrl+b or fix with ctrl+x
Dynamic Variables: Create command templates with {{variables}} and replace them on the fly
Smart Completions: Power up your variables with dynamic suggestions from any command
AI-Powered Commands: Generate, fix, and import commands effortlessly using local or remote LLMs
Highly Configurable: Tailor search modes, keybindings, themes, and even search-ranking algorithms
Workspace-Aware: Automatically discovers and loads commands from your workspace’s directory
Import / Export: Share your command library using files, HTTP endpoints, or even Gists
TLDR Integration: Fetch and import command examples from tldr pages
Flexible Interface: Choose between a non-intrusive (inline) or an immersive (full-screen) TUI

Quick Start

For a comprehensive guide on installation, configuration, and advanced features, please refer to the Quick Start section of the book.

Here’s a summary to get you started:

Install or update the binary:

# For sh-compatible shells on Linux/macOS/Windows (Bash, Zsh, Fish, Nu, Git Bash)
curl -sSf https://raw.githubusercontent.com/lasantosr/intelli-shell/main/install.sh | sh

Windows (PowerShell)

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser # Optional: Only needed if scripts are disabled
irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/lasantosr/intelli-shell/main/install.ps1 | iex

Note: Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (download) is required for the application to run

To skip profile updates, set INTELLI_SKIP_PROFILE environment variable to 1 before installing.

Bookmark your first command by typing it on a terminal and hitting ctrl+b
(optional) Enable AI features, import commands and completions from shared gists or fetch commands from tldr
Hit ctrl+space to begin the journey and don’t forget to checkout the [tips]!(#tips)!

Basic Usage

IntelliShell is designed to be used interactively through keybindings, for detailed information on installation, configuration, or advanced usage examples, please refer to the Book.

Shell Integration

These hotkeys work directly in your terminal line:

ctrl+space: Search for a command
ctrl+b: Bookmark the command currently typed in your terminal
ctrl+l: Replace {{variables}} in the current command
ctrl+x: Diagnose and try to fix a failing command (requires AI to be enabled)
esc: Clean the current line, this binding can be skipped by setting INTELLI_SKIP_ESC_BIND=1

These keybindings can be changed, see Customizing Keybindings for details.

Inside the Application

Once any interface is shown, you can use these keys:

esc: Quit without making a selection or go back
F2 / ctrl+u / ctrl+e: Edit the highlighted item
ctrl+d: Delete the highlighted item
enter / tab: Confirm a selection or move to the next step
ctrl+enter / ctrl+r: Execute the highlighted command immediately
ctrl+i / ctrl+x: Prompt AI (when searching or creating commands)

These keybindings are fully customizable; in fact, you can configure everything from themes to search behavior. See the Keybindings Configuration page for binding specifics, or check out the [default configuration file]!(./default_config.toml) for a complete list of all available options.

Tips

Quick autocomplete: If your search query matches an alias, it will be autocompleted instantly. The variable replacement UI will still appear if the command has variables.
Learn Commands on the Fly: Can’t find the command you’re looking for? Just describe it in natural language and press ctrl+i while searching to let the AI write it for you.
Alias your favorites: Use aliases to “pin” different sets of favorite values for the same command. For example, bookmark cd {{path}} with a cd alias and you can regularly use cd but if you hit ctrl+space it will show your “pinned” folders.
Quickly re-prompt variables: Need to run a command again with different inputs? Hit the up arrow in your shell to recall the last command, then press ctrl+space. You’ll get the original template back, ready for new values.
Fix errors instantly: Typed a long command only to have it fail? Instead of manually debugging, just hit the up arrow to recall it and press ctrl+x. The AI will analyze the command and the error message to suggest a working version.
Organize with hashtags: Add hashtags like #work or #gcp to your command descriptions. You can then find and use these hashtags in your search query to quickly filter your bookmarks.
Bookmark everything: Don’t just bookmark simple commands! You can save entire shell functions for reuse. For example: custom_echo() { echo "hey: $@"; }; custom_echo {{text}};
Keep variables secret: If you have a variable you don’t want to save in your suggestion history (like a token or a comment), wrap its name in an extra pair of brackets: echo "{{{message}}}"
Embrace environment variables: Let your environment do the work. Suggestions are automatically pulled from your environment variables. For example, {{{api-key}}} will suggest $API_KEY variable if it exists.
Format variables: Apply formatting functions directly within your variable placeholders. This is perfect for transforming input on the fly, like a git-friendly branch name: git checkout -b {{feature|bugfix}}/{{{description:kebab}}}
Define workspace-specific commands: Create a [.intellishell]!(./.intellishell) file in your workspace’s root directory and commit it to git. These commands are temporary, prioritized in search results, and don’t clutter your global library. It’s the perfect way to define and share common tasks (like build or deploy scripts) with your team.
Share your knowledge: Found a set of commands that could help others? Use the export feature to a public Gist of your bookmarks. Share the link on your blog, with your team, or contribute to a curated list (example).
Import everything: Use the AI-powered import to extract command templates from virtually any text. Point it at a blog post, a cheatsheet, or even your own shell history to turn useful examples into reusable commands.
Name your variables wisely: You have full control over which suggestions are shared between commands. Suggestions are grouped by variable name and root cmd. Use the same name to share suggestions, or different names to keep them separate.
- Shared: Using {{image}} for both docker run and docker rmi will share the same list of image suggestions.
- Separate: Keep suggestions for different use cases distinct by using different variable names. For example, you can separate your ssh connections for {{prod_server}} and {{staging_server}} environments. Giving each a distinct alias like sshp and sshs lets you quickly access the right set of servers.

IntelliShell vs. Shell History

A common question is: “How is this different from my shell’s history (ctrl+r) or enhanced history tools like Atuin?”

The key distinction is that they solve different problems and are complementary tools, not competitors.

ctrl+r (Shell History) is perfect for recalling a specific, unique command you ran recently. It’s a chronological log of what you’ve done.
ctrl+space (IntelliShell) is for your day-to-day, frequently used commands, or for discovering how to perform a task in a new project. It’s a curated library of what you want to do.

To put it another way: your shell history is an automatic, unfiltered log of everything you’ve ever typed—the good, the bad, and the typos.

IntelliShell, by contrast, is your personal, curated collection of command “recipes” that you’ve chosen to save, organize, and even share.

Aspect	Shell History / Atuin	IntelliShell
Primary Purpose	A chronological log of every command you execute	A curated library of reusable command templates
Content	Often cluttered with raw, one-off commands, and typos	A clean, organized, and intentional set of useful commands
Repetitive Tasks	Stores every unique variation (e.g., `ssh host1`, `ssh host2`)	Stores one template (`ssh {{host}}`) and remembers your past inputs for quick reuse
Project Onboarding	You must read `READMEs` or other docs to find project-specific commands	Just hit `ctrl+space` in a new repo or devcontainer to instantly discover available tools and commands
Command Discovery	Limited to commands you have personally run before	Discover commands from your team (`.intellishell` files), the community (Gists), or `tldr` pages
Core Philosophy	Recall: “What was that exact command I ran yesterday?”	Intent: “How do I perform this common task?”

By using both, you get the best of both worlds: a comprehensive log for forensic searches and a powerful, personal, and collaborative knowledge base for everything else.

License

IntelliShell is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See [LICENSE]!(LICENSE) for the full license text.