Bash – Go forward in bash argument history

If you're an Emacs user, my answer probably isn't something you'll want to use, but it should still be noted on this page so here it is:

You can use vi keybindings in a bash shell very easily. Type set -o vi. Add it to your .bashrc if you like the results.

The answer to your specific question, delete forward to the next space, is accomplished with dt<Space> (delete till space) or just dE (delete to end of space-delimited Word).

Standard vi keybindings are used—the main thing to get used to (if you're a vi user already) is that you'll be in insert mode by default. So to use a Normal-mode command such as the above, type <Esc> first. Alternatively, you can hold down the Alt key while typing the first letter of your command. For instance, k is the vi command to go up one line, so <Alt>k can be used just like the up arrow—to go back one command in your history.

Here's a different approach. If you are comfortable with some basic vi editing commands, bash supports a vi-mode for command line editing. If you really hate vi you won't like this. But if you can tolerate it, you may find it preferable and with fewer keystrokes.

set -o vi

History search works like this:

• Esc to enter command mode
• / to begin search
• Type text of search string
• Enter to perform search
• n to go to next match
• N to jump back to the previous match
• i to get back into insert mode
• Enter to run command