[SOLVED] Execute a command without keeping it in history

Issue

When doing software development, there is often need to include confidential information in command line commands. Typical example is setting credentials for deploying the project to a server as environment variables.

How can I execute some commands, when I don't want to store them in the command history?

Nobody must be able to search them in the .bash_history file. Is there a way how to execute Bash commands this way?

Solution

Start your command with a space and it won't be included in the history.

Be aware that this does require the environment variable $HISTCONTROL to be set.

• Check that the following command returns ignorespace or ignoreboth:

   echo $HISTCONTROL
  

• To add the environment variable if missing, the following line can be added to the Bash profile. E.g., to file %HOME/.bashrc.

   export HISTCONTROL=ignorespace
  

After sourcing the profile again, space-prefixed commands will not be written to $HISTFILE.

Answered By - u-punkt

Answer Checked By - Willingham (WPSolving Volunteer)