Using bash history to get a previous command, copy it and then 'run' it but with the command commented

Question

Just a question to improve my bash skills. I always do this:

$ history | grep some_long_command

...
...
123 some_long_command1.........
124 some_l         


        

Answer 1

Actually, you can just append :p to the command to print it without actually running it. For example:

$ ls -la
$ !!:p

Will print out ls -la as the previous command without running it, and you can just press ↑ (up) to find it and edit it.

You can also do

!123:p

to print out the 123rd command as your previous command.