For what it's worth, Term::Readline is a perl frontend to the C library, and readline is definitely the lib that's used by bash (the linux shell) for command history. However, perl modules of this sort do not always provide the same level of functionality (sometimes more, sometimes less) IMO.

In any case, you don't really need to resort to that. I implemented a command history for a perl/Tk app I wrote about 3 years ago. I would do this somewhat differently now, but it's worth noting that this is the source from that and I still use this app on a near daily basis.

A weird and unique thing: this is how I was introduced to OOP (here at perlmonks! ...not bothering to look for thread). If you look at this "function", it's pretty obviously a "class". I know there is some object notation in it, I didn't know that's what I was doing (I understood references). Some perlmonks reg pointed out this should be a package.

Anyway, like I said it still works so is probably a decent source of ideas (ie, please don't blast me for style :lol:)

sub tkhistory {
    my $entry = shift; 
    if ($entry == 0) {   # an "unattached" new history
        my %hash;
        my @list;
        $hash{hlist} = \@list;
        my $ref = \%hash;
        return $ref;}
    my $cmand = shift; my $hist;
    if ($cmand eq "new") {
        my %hash;
        my @list;
        $hash{hlist} = \@list;
        $hash{$entry} = -1;
        my $ref = \%hash;
        return $ref;
    } else {$hist = shift;}
    if ($cmand eq "add") {
        my $string = $$entry->get;
        foreach my $elem (@{$hist->{hlist}}) {        # prevent duplic
+ates
            if ($string eq $elem) {return 0}} 
        push(@{$hist->{hlist}},$string);
        $hist->{$entry} == $#{$hist->{hlist}};
    } elsif ($cmand eq "up") {
        if ($#{$hist->{hlist}} == -1) {return}
        if ($hist->{$entry} < 0) {$hist->{$entry} = $#{$hist->{hlist}}
+}
        else {$hist->{$entry}--};    
        $$entry->delete('0','end');
        $$entry->insert('1',$hist->{hlist}[$hist->{$entry}]);
    } elsif ($cmand eq "down") {
        $$entry->delete('0','end');
        if ($#{$hist->{hlist}} == -1) {return}
        if ($hist->{$entry} == $#{$hist->{hlist}}) {
            $hist->{$entry} = -1;
            return}
        $hist->{$entry}++;
        $$entry->insert('1',$hist->{hlist}[$hist->{$entry}]);
    } elsif ($cmand eq "join") {
        $hist->{$entry} = 0;
    }
}
[download]

I believe "up" and "down" are linked to the key callbacks for various tk entries. "add" is probably linked to the enter key.

The application it's from is here:
http://tkcodex.sourceforge.net/
I mostly use it on C/C++ source trees now.

Good luck!