Move to intuitive bash-style command history

[mmaunder]

What would you like to be added?

There doesn't seem to be any logic around how up-arrow command history works in the current version of Gemini CLI. How the up-arrow works in a shell is a deeply established user interface pattern, and it is deeply ingrained in our muscle memory.

The current up-arrow behavior doesn't seem to have any relationship with the chronological order of commands used. For example, entering /clear and then using up-arrow pulls commands from several sessions ago, instead of simply stepping backwards through the most recently typed commands in the current CLI session.

Can we please do what Codex CLI is doing, and what is an established pattern in Bash, and what Claude Code does, and move to a straight-up intuitive command history?

I'd also suggest that Gemini CLI moves away from trying to force new patterns on users - as with the rather absurd disabling of the ability to select text in a terminal for copy/paste and instead forcing the user to enter a copy mode via CTRL-S. That issue is now resolved, but these kinds of design patterns are counter to well established UX paths in the terminal and shell environment, and are an innovation bridge too far. Stick to what you're good at: Providing the world's best command line AI agent.

Thanks.

Why is this needed?

Make CLI more intuitive.

Additional context

No response

[harshit078]

Hi, I definitely agree on it and I would be working on this issue.

[mmaunder]

Just updating. Many of us are using Codex CLI and Claude Code CLI and other shell utilities, so we have muscle memory around this, and switching to the gemini cli window is a jarring experience. To make it worse, copying/pasting produces pipe characters. So if you want to save a command and then reuse it e.g. a huge prompt, you then need to filter out the pipes. This is not my idea of fun.

Anyway, on the plus side, Gemini CLI is rapidly becoming my daily driver. Great job on the raw power side of things.