Enable recording datetime in bash history

set-bash-history-time-format.sh

#!/bin/bash

# This bash script configures the bash history to include timestamps in a human-readable format.
# It first checks if the user's .bashrc file exists and contains the HISTTIMEFORMAT configuration.
# If the .bashrc file doesn't exist, it creates it and adds the HISTTIMEFORMAT configuration.
# If the .bashrc file exists but doesn't contain the HISTTIMEFORMAT configuration, it adds the configuration.
# It then applies the changes immediately by sourcing the .bashrc file.

# Define the time format for ease of modification and reuse
TIME_FORMAT="%y-%m-%d %T | "

# Check if the .bashrc file exists in the home directory
if [ -f ~/.bashrc ]; then
    # If .bashrc exists, check if it already contains the HISTTIMEFORMAT configuration
    if grep -q "HISTTIMEFORMAT" ~/.bashrc; then
        echo ".bashrc already contains HISTTIMEFORMAT configuration."
    else
        # If .bashrc does not contain the HISTTIMEFORMAT configuration, append it to the file
        echo "export HISTTIMEFORMAT=\"$TIME_FORMAT\"" >> ~/.bashrc
        echo "HISTTIMEFORMAT configuration added to .bashrc."
    fi
else
    # If .bashrc does not exist, create it and add the HISTTIMEFORMAT configuration
    echo "export HISTTIMEFORMAT=\"$TIME_FORMAT\"" > ~/.bashrc
    echo ".bashrc created and HISTTIMEFORMAT configuration added."
fi

# Source .bashrc to apply changes immediately without requiring re-login
source ~/.bashrc
echo "Changes applied, bash history will now include timestamp."