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When I run node from the command line with no arguments, I enter an interactive shell. If I execute some commands, exit node, and restart node, the up arrow doesn't do anything (I'd like it scroll through my previous commands).

Is there a way I can invoke node interactively such that it will remember my old commands?

Paul
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Brian
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  • So what have you tried so far? [node-shell](https://github.com/wdavidw/node-shell) seems to have the features, among many others. – TC1 Aug 29 '13 at 13:04

6 Answers6

26

You could use rlwrap to store node.js REPL commands in a history file.

First, install rlwrap (done easily with a package manager like apt-get or brew etc).

Then add an alias for node:

alias node='env NODE_NO_READLINE=1 rlwrap node'

I'm on OSX so I add that alias to my ~/.bash_profile file, and would reload my bash_profile file via source ~/.bash_profile.. and I'm good to go!

Hope this helps!

badsyntax
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17

I found a nice little project, which solves the problem:

https://www.npmjs.org/package/repl.history

install using npm (npm install -g repl.history) and run repl.history on the command line.

dreampulse
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  • This method preserves repl colors and tab completion. Yay! – Sam Hiatt Jan 21 '15 at 19:33
  • @SamH Edits should not change or extend the original answer in any way. They are meant only to clarify grammar, spelling, formatting, etc. This is due in part to the fact that edits are approved by the community, not the owner of the post you're editing. If you have suggestions, they belong in comments or your own answer. See: http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/11474/what-is-the-etiquette-for-modifying-posts – Ansel Santosa Jan 21 '15 at 23:17
8

io.js 2.0 includes support for persistent REPL history.

env NODE_REPL_HISTORY_FILE=$HOME/.node_history iojs

The maximum length of the history can be set with NODE_REPL_HISTORY_SIZE, which defaults to 1000.

In io.js 3.0+, REPL history is enabled by default and NODE_REPL_HISTORY_FILE is deprecated in favor of NODE_REPL_HISTORY (default: ~/.node_repl_history).

Ivan Kozik
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7

Node supports this natively.

When in node REPL just issue the following command to save the history:

$> .save ./file/to/save.js

Reference: Commands and Special Keys

Shaunak
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7

As well check file .node_repl_history in user home directory.

harvyS
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5

I like the combination of both dreampulse's and badsyntax's answers. With repl.history, plus an addition to my .bash_profile I get the behavior I expect, which is command history and syntax highlighting in the node interactive shell, but bypassing repl when called with arguments (to run a script). 

npm install -g repl.history

Then edit your ~/.bash_profile, adding:

function node(){
    if test "$#" -lt 1; then repl.history
    else env node $@; fi; }

Now restart your shell or run . ~/.bash_profile and you're good to go.

Now running

$ node

will open the repl.history nodejs interactive shell, and 

$ node program.js [...]

will run program.js with node as expected.

Sam Hiatt
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