feat: add custom column support (#3089)

Configure the interactive search UI appearance. Resolves #998

```toml
[ui]
columns = ["duration", "time", "command"]
```

### `columns`

Default: `["duration", "time", "command"]`

Columns to display in the interactive search, from left to right. The
selection
indicator (`" > "`) is always shown first implicitly.

Each column can be specified as:
- A simple string (uses default width): `"duration"`
- An object with type and optional width/expand: `{ type = "directory",
width = 30 }`

#### Available column types

| Column | Default Width | Description |
| --------- | ------------- |
----------------------------------------------- |
| duration | 5 | Command execution duration (e.g., "123ms") |
| time | 8 | Relative time since execution (e.g., "59m ago") |
| datetime | 16 | Absolute timestamp (e.g., "2025-01-22 14:35") |
| directory | 20 | Working directory (truncated if too long) |
| host | 15 | Hostname |
| user | 10 | Username |
| exit | 3 | Exit code (colored by success/failure) |
| command | * | The command itself (expands by default) |

#### Column options

- **type**: The column type (required when using object format)
- **width**: Custom width in characters (optional, uses default if not
specified)
- **expand**: If `true`, the column fills remaining space. Default is
`true` for `command`, `false` for others. Only one column should have
`expand = true`.

#### Examples

```toml
# Minimal - more space for commands
columns = ["duration", "command"]

# With custom directory width
columns = ["duration", { type = "directory", width = 30 }, "command"]

# Show host for multi-machine sync users
columns = ["duration", "time", "host", "command"]

# Show exit codes prominently
columns = ["exit", "duration", "command"]

# Make directory expand instead of command
columns = ["duration", "time", { type = "directory", expand = true }, { type = "command", expand = false }]
```

5 files changed, 431 insertions, 21 deletions

diff --git a/crates/atuin-client/config.toml b/crates/atuin-client/config.toml
index 2eb5d790..117ea066 100644
--- a/crates/atuin-client/config.toml
+++ b/crates/atuin-client/config.toml
@@ -289,3 +289,44 @@ records = true
 ## The "workspace" mode is skipped when not in a workspace or workspaces = false.
 ## Default filter mode can be overridden with the filter_mode setting.
 # filters = [ "global", "host", "session", "session-preload", "workspace", "directory" ]
+
+[ui]
+## Columns to display in the interactive search, from left to right.
+## The selection indicator (" > ") is always shown first implicitly.
+##
+## Each column can be specified as a simple string (uses default width)
+## or as an object with type, width, and expand:
+##   { type = "directory", width = 30, expand = true }
+##
+## Available column types (with default widths):
+##   duration  (5)  - Command execution duration (e.g., "123ms")
+##   time      (8)  - Relative time since execution (e.g., "59m ago")
+##   datetime  (16) - Absolute timestamp (e.g., "2025-01-22 14:35")
+##   directory (20) - Working directory (truncated if too long)
+##   host      (15) - Hostname where command was run
+##   user      (10) - Username
+##   exit      (3)  - Exit code (colored by success/failure)
+##   command   (*)  - The command itself (expands by default)
+##
+## The "expand" option (default: true for command, false for others) makes a
+## column fill remaining space. Only one column should have expand = true.
+##
+## Default:
+# columns = ["duration", "time", "command"]
+##
+## Examples:
+##
+## Minimal - more space for commands:
+# columns = ["duration", "command"]
+##
+## With wider directory column:
+# columns = ["duration", { type = "directory", width = 30 }, "command"]
+##
+## Show host for multi-machine sync users:
+# columns = ["duration", "time", "host", "command"]
+##
+## Show exit codes prominently:
+# columns = ["exit", "duration", "command"]
+##
+## Make directory expand instead of command:
+# columns = ["duration", "time", { type = "directory", expand = true }, { type = "command", expand = false }]
diff --git a/crates/atuin-client/src/settings.rs b/crates/atuin-client/src/settings.rs
index 87ed9383..bfe9278d 100644
--- a/crates/atuin-client/src/settings.rs
+++ b/crates/atuin-client/src/settings.rs
@@ -451,6 +451,184 @@ pub enum PreviewStrategy {
     Fixed,
 }
 
+/// Column types available for the interactive search UI.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "lowercase")]
+pub enum UiColumnType {
+    /// Command execution duration (e.g., "123ms")
+    Duration,
+    /// Relative time since execution (e.g., "59s ago")
+    Time,
+    /// Absolute timestamp (e.g., "2025-01-22 14:35")
+    Datetime,
+    /// Working directory
+    Directory,
+    /// Hostname
+    Host,
+    /// Username
+    User,
+    /// Exit code
+    Exit,
+    /// The command itself (should be last, expands to fill)
+    Command,
+}
+
+impl UiColumnType {
+    /// Returns the default width for this column type (in characters).
+    /// The Command column returns 0 as it expands to fill remaining space.
+    pub fn default_width(&self) -> u16 {
+        match self {
+            UiColumnType::Duration => 5,
+            UiColumnType::Time => 8,      // "59m ago" with padding
+            UiColumnType::Datetime => 16, // "2025-01-22 14:35"
+            UiColumnType::Directory => 20,
+            UiColumnType::Host => 15,
+            UiColumnType::User => 10,
+            UiColumnType::Exit => 3,
+            UiColumnType::Command => 0, // Expands to fill
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// A column configuration with type and optional custom width.
+/// Can be specified as just a string (uses default width) or as an object with type and width.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize)]
+pub struct UiColumn {
+    pub column_type: UiColumnType,
+    pub width: u16,
+    /// If true, this column expands to fill remaining space. Only one column should expand.
+    pub expand: bool,
+}
+
+impl UiColumn {
+    pub fn new(column_type: UiColumnType) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            width: column_type.default_width(),
+            expand: column_type == UiColumnType::Command,
+            column_type,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn with_width(column_type: UiColumnType, width: u16) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            column_type,
+            width,
+            expand: column_type == UiColumnType::Command,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// Custom deserialize to handle both string and object formats:
+// "duration" or { type = "duration", width = 8, expand = true }
+impl<'de> serde::Deserialize<'de> for UiColumn {
+    fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
+    where
+        D: serde::Deserializer<'de>,
+    {
+        use serde::de::{self, MapAccess, Visitor};
+
+        struct UiColumnVisitor;
+
+        impl<'de> Visitor<'de> for UiColumnVisitor {
+            type Value = UiColumn;
+
+            fn expecting(&self, formatter: &mut std::fmt::Formatter) -> std::fmt::Result {
+                formatter.write_str(
+                    "a column type string or an object with 'type' and optional 'width'/'expand'",
+                )
+            }
+
+            fn visit_str<E>(self, value: &str) -> Result<UiColumn, E>
+            where
+                E: de::Error,
+            {
+                let column_type: UiColumnType =
+                    serde::Deserialize::deserialize(serde::de::value::StrDeserializer::new(value))?;
+                Ok(UiColumn::new(column_type))
+            }
+
+            fn visit_map<M>(self, mut map: M) -> Result<UiColumn, M::Error>
+            where
+                M: MapAccess<'de>,
+            {
+                let mut column_type: Option<UiColumnType> = None;
+                let mut width: Option<u16> = None;
+                let mut expand: Option<bool> = None;
+
+                while let Some(key) = map.next_key::<String>()? {
+                    match key.as_str() {
+                        "type" => {
+                            column_type = Some(map.next_value()?);
+                        }
+                        "width" => {
+                            width = Some(map.next_value()?);
+                        }
+                        "expand" => {
+                            expand = Some(map.next_value()?);
+                        }
+                        _ => {
+                            let _: serde::de::IgnoredAny = map.next_value()?;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+
+                let column_type = column_type.ok_or_else(|| de::Error::missing_field("type"))?;
+                let width = width.unwrap_or_else(|| column_type.default_width());
+                let expand = expand.unwrap_or(column_type == UiColumnType::Command);
+                Ok(UiColumn {
+                    column_type,
+                    width,
+                    expand,
+                })
+            }
+        }
+
+        deserializer.deserialize_any(UiColumnVisitor)
+    }
+}
+
+/// UI-specific settings for the interactive search.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize)]
+pub struct Ui {
+    /// Columns to display in interactive search, from left to right.
+    /// The indicator column (" > ") is always shown first implicitly.
+    /// The "command" column should be last as it expands to fill remaining space.
+    /// Can be simple strings or objects with type and width.
+    #[serde(default = "Ui::default_columns")]
+    pub columns: Vec<UiColumn>,
+}
+
+impl Ui {
+    fn default_columns() -> Vec<UiColumn> {
+        vec![
+            UiColumn::new(UiColumnType::Duration),
+            UiColumn::new(UiColumnType::Time),
+            UiColumn::new(UiColumnType::Command),
+        ]
+    }
+
+    /// Validate the UI configuration.
+    /// Returns an error if more than one column has expand = true.
+    pub fn validate(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        let expand_count = self.columns.iter().filter(|c| c.expand).count();
+        if expand_count > 1 {
+            bail!(
+                "Only one column can have expand = true, but {} columns are set to expand",
+                expand_count
+            );
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for Ui {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            columns: Self::default_columns(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize)]
 pub struct Settings {
     pub dialect: Dialect,
@@ -531,6 +709,9 @@ pub struct Settings {
     pub theme: Theme,
 
     #[serde(default)]
+    pub ui: Ui,
+
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub scripts: scripts::Settings,
 
     #[serde(default)]
@@ -905,6 +1086,9 @@ impl Settings {
         settings.session_path = Self::expand_path(settings.session_path)?;
         settings.daemon.socket_path = Self::expand_path(settings.daemon.socket_path)?;
 
+        // Validate UI settings
+        settings.ui.validate()?;
+
         Ok(settings)
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/atuin/src/command/client/search/history_list.rs b/crates/atuin/src/command/client/search/history_list.rs
index 47a7d9dc..7974fd0f 100644
--- a/crates/atuin/src/command/client/search/history_list.rs
+++ b/crates/atuin/src/command/client/search/history_list.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use super::duration::format_duration;
 use super::engines::SearchEngine;
 use atuin_client::{
     history::History,
+    settings::{UiColumn, UiColumnType},
     theme::{Meaning, Theme},
 };
 use atuin_common::utils::Escapable as _;
@@ -40,6 +41,8 @@ pub struct HistoryList<'a> {
     theme: &'a Theme,
     history_highlighter: HistoryHighlighter<'a>,
     show_numeric_shortcuts: bool,
+    /// Columns to display (in order, after the indicator)
+    columns: &'a [UiColumn],
 }
 
 #[derive(Default)]
@@ -95,13 +98,11 @@ impl StatefulWidget for HistoryList<'_> {
             theme: self.theme,
             history_highlighter: self.history_highlighter,
             show_numeric_shortcuts: self.show_numeric_shortcuts,
+            columns: self.columns,
         };
 
         for item in self.history.iter().skip(state.offset).take(end - start) {
-            s.index();
-            s.duration(item);
-            s.time(item);
-            s.command(item);
+            s.render_row(item);
 
             // reset line
             s.y += 1;
@@ -121,6 +122,7 @@ impl<'a> HistoryList<'a> {
         theme: &'a Theme,
         history_highlighter: HistoryHighlighter<'a>,
         show_numeric_shortcuts: bool,
+        columns: &'a [UiColumn],
     ) -> Self {
         Self {
             history,
@@ -132,6 +134,7 @@ impl<'a> HistoryList<'a> {
             theme,
             history_highlighter,
             show_numeric_shortcuts,
+            columns,
         }
     }
 
@@ -168,19 +171,57 @@ struct DrawState<'a> {
     theme: &'a Theme,
     history_highlighter: HistoryHighlighter<'a>,
     show_numeric_shortcuts: bool,
+    columns: &'a [UiColumn],
 }
 
-// longest line prefix I could come up with
+// Default prefix length for backwards compatibility (used by interactive.rs)
 #[allow(clippy::cast_possible_truncation)] // we know that this is <65536 length
 pub const PREFIX_LENGTH: u16 = " > 123ms 59s ago".len() as u16;
-static SPACES: &str = "                ";
-static _ASSERT: () = assert!(SPACES.len() == PREFIX_LENGTH as usize);
 
 // these encode the slices of `" > "`, `" {n} "`, or `"   "` in a compact form.
 // Yes, this is a hack, but it makes me feel happy
 static SLICES: &str = " > 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   ";
 
 impl DrawState<'_> {
+    /// Render a complete row for a history item based on configured columns.
+    fn render_row(&mut self, h: &History) {
+        // Always render the indicator first (width 3)
+        self.index();
+
+        // Calculate the width for the expanding column
+        // Fixed columns use their configured width + 1 (trailing space)
+        let indicator_width: u16 = 3;
+        let fixed_width: u16 = self
+            .columns
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|c| !c.expand)
+            .map(|c| c.width + 1)
+            .sum();
+        let expand_width = self
+            .list_area
+            .width
+            .saturating_sub(indicator_width + fixed_width);
+
+        // Render each configured column
+        for column in self.columns {
+            let width = if column.expand {
+                expand_width
+            } else {
+                column.width
+            };
+            match column.column_type {
+                UiColumnType::Duration => self.duration(h, width),
+                UiColumnType::Time => self.time(h, width),
+                UiColumnType::Datetime => self.datetime(h, width),
+                UiColumnType::Directory => self.directory(h, width),
+                UiColumnType::Host => self.host(h, width),
+                UiColumnType::User => self.user(h, width),
+                UiColumnType::Exit => self.exit_code(h, width),
+                UiColumnType::Command => self.command(h),
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     fn index(&mut self) {
         if !self.show_numeric_shortcuts {
             let i = self.y as usize + self.state.offset;
@@ -204,18 +245,21 @@ impl DrawState<'_> {
         self.draw(prompt, Style::default());
     }
 
-    fn duration(&mut self, h: &History) {
-        let status = self.theme.as_style(if h.success() {
+    fn duration(&mut self, h: &History, width: u16) {
+        let style = self.theme.as_style(if h.success() {
             Meaning::AlertInfo
         } else {
             Meaning::AlertError
         });
         let duration = Duration::from_nanos(u64::try_from(h.duration).unwrap_or(0));
-        self.draw(&format_duration(duration), status.into());
+        let formatted = format_duration(duration);
+        let w = width as usize;
+        // Right-align duration within its column width, plus trailing space
+        let display = format!("{formatted:>w$} ");
+        self.draw(&display, style.into());
     }
 
-    #[allow(clippy::cast_possible_truncation)] // we know that time.len() will be <6
-    fn time(&mut self, h: &History) {
+    fn time(&mut self, h: &History, width: u16) {
         let style = self.theme.as_style(Meaning::Guidance);
 
         // Account for the chance that h.timestamp is "in the future"
@@ -226,14 +270,11 @@ impl DrawState<'_> {
         let since = (self.now)() - h.timestamp;
         let time = format_duration(since.try_into().unwrap_or_default());
 
-        // pad the time a little bit before we write. this aligns things nicely
-        // skip padding if for some reason it is already too long to align nicely
-        let padding =
-            usize::from(PREFIX_LENGTH).saturating_sub(usize::from(self.x) + 4 + time.len());
-        self.draw(&SPACES[..padding], Style::default());
-
-        self.draw(&time, style.into());
-        self.draw(" ago", style.into());
+        // Format as "Xs ago" right-aligned within column width, plus trailing space
+        let w = width as usize;
+        let time_str = format!("{time} ago");
+        let display = format!("{time_str:>w$} ");
+        self.draw(&display, style.into());
     }
 
     fn command(&mut self, h: &History) {
@@ -281,6 +322,85 @@ impl DrawState<'_> {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Render the absolute datetime column (e.g., "2025-01-22 14:35")
+    fn datetime(&mut self, h: &History, width: u16) {
+        let style = self.theme.as_style(Meaning::Annotation);
+        // Format: YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM
+        let formatted = h
+            .timestamp
+            .format(
+                &time::format_description::parse("[year]-[month]-[day] [hour]:[minute]")
+                    .expect("valid format"),
+            )
+            .unwrap_or_else(|_| "????-??-?? ??:??".to_string());
+        let w = width as usize;
+        let display = format!("{formatted:w$} ");
+        self.draw(&display, style.into());
+    }
+
+    /// Render the directory column (working directory, truncated)
+    fn directory(&mut self, h: &History, width: u16) {
+        let style = self.theme.as_style(Meaning::Annotation);
+        let w = width as usize;
+        let cwd = &h.cwd;
+        let char_count = cwd.chars().count();
+        // Truncate from the left with "..." if too long, plus trailing space
+        // Use character count for comparison and skip for UTF-8 safety
+        let display = if char_count > w && w >= 4 {
+            let truncated: String = cwd.chars().skip(char_count - (w - 3)).collect();
+            format!("...{truncated} ")
+        } else {
+            format!("{cwd:w$} ")
+        };
+        self.draw(&display, style.into());
+    }
+
+    /// Render the host column (just the hostname)
+    fn host(&mut self, h: &History, width: u16) {
+        let style = self.theme.as_style(Meaning::Annotation);
+        let w = width as usize;
+        // Database stores hostname as "hostname:username"
+        let host = h.hostname.split(':').next().unwrap_or(&h.hostname);
+        let char_count = host.chars().count();
+        // Use character count for comparison and take for UTF-8 safety
+        let display = if char_count > w && w >= 4 {
+            let truncated: String = host.chars().take(w.saturating_sub(4)).collect();
+            format!("{truncated}... ")
+        } else {
+            format!("{host:w$} ")
+        };
+        self.draw(&display, style.into());
+    }
+
+    /// Render the user column
+    fn user(&mut self, h: &History, width: u16) {
+        let style = self.theme.as_style(Meaning::Annotation);
+        let w = width as usize;
+        // Database stores hostname as "hostname:username"
+        let user = h.hostname.split(':').nth(1).unwrap_or("");
+        let char_count = user.chars().count();
+        // Use character count for comparison and take for UTF-8 safety
+        let display = if char_count > w && w >= 4 {
+            let truncated: String = user.chars().take(w.saturating_sub(4)).collect();
+            format!("{truncated}... ")
+        } else {
+            format!("{user:w$} ")
+        };
+        self.draw(&display, style.into());
+    }
+
+    /// Render the exit code column
+    fn exit_code(&mut self, h: &History, width: u16) {
+        let style = if h.success() {
+            self.theme.as_style(Meaning::AlertInfo)
+        } else {
+            self.theme.as_style(Meaning::AlertError)
+        };
+        let w = width as usize;
+        let display = format!("{:>w$} ", h.exit);
+        self.draw(&display, style.into());
+    }
+
     fn draw(&mut self, s: &str, mut style: Style) {
         let cx = self.list_area.left() + self.x;
 
diff --git a/crates/atuin/src/command/client/search/interactive.rs b/crates/atuin/src/command/client/search/interactive.rs
index fc6164d6..3a69b973 100644
--- a/crates/atuin/src/command/client/search/interactive.rs
+++ b/crates/atuin/src/command/client/search/interactive.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ use super::{
 use atuin_client::{
     database::{Database, current_context},
     history::{History, HistoryId, HistoryStats, store::HistoryStore},
-    settings::{CursorStyle, ExitMode, KeymapMode, PreviewStrategy, SearchMode, Settings},
+    settings::{
+        CursorStyle, ExitMode, KeymapMode, PreviewStrategy, SearchMode, Settings, UiColumn,
+    },
 };
 
 use crate::command::client::search::history_list::HistoryHighlighter;
@@ -823,6 +825,7 @@ impl State {
                     theme,
                     history_highlighter,
                     settings.show_numeric_shortcuts,
+                    &settings.ui.columns,
                 );
                 f.render_stateful_widget(results_list, results_list_chunk, &mut self.results_state);
             }
@@ -989,6 +992,7 @@ impl State {
         theme: &'a Theme,
         history_highlighter: HistoryHighlighter<'a>,
         show_numeric_shortcuts: bool,
+        columns: &'a [UiColumn],
     ) -> HistoryList<'a> {
         let results_list = HistoryList::new(
             results,
@@ -999,6 +1003,7 @@ impl State {
             theme,
             history_highlighter,
             show_numeric_shortcuts,
+            columns,
         );
 
         match style.compactness {
diff --git a/docs/docs/configuration/config.md b/docs/docs/configuration/config.md
index 18fc86ee..f62c6160 100644
--- a/docs/docs/configuration/config.md
+++ b/docs/docs/configuration/config.md
@@ -758,3 +758,63 @@ need to be added in or changed in normal usage.
 ```toml
 max_depth = 10
 ```
+
+## ui
+
+Atuin version: >= 18.5
+
+Configure the interactive search UI appearance.
+
+```toml
+[ui]
+columns = ["duration", "time", "command"]
+```
+
+### `columns`
+
+Default: `["duration", "time", "command"]`
+
+Columns to display in the interactive search, from left to right. The selection
+indicator (`" > "`) is always shown first implicitly.
+
+Each column can be specified as:
+- A simple string (uses default width): `"duration"`
+- An object with type and optional width/expand: `{ type = "directory", width = 30 }`
+
+#### Available column types
+
+| Column    | Default Width | Description                                     |
+| --------- | ------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
+| duration  | 5             | Command execution duration (e.g., "123ms")      |
+| time      | 8             | Relative time since execution (e.g., "59m ago") |
+| datetime  | 16            | Absolute timestamp (e.g., "2025-01-22 14:35")   |
+| directory | 20            | Working directory (truncated if too long)       |
+| host      | 15            | Hostname where command was run                  |
+| user      | 10            | Username                                        |
+| exit      | 3             | Exit code (colored by success/failure)          |
+| command   | *             | The command itself (expands by default)         |
+
+#### Column options
+
+- **type**: The column type (required when using object format)
+- **width**: Custom width in characters (optional, uses default if not specified)
+- **expand**: If `true`, the column fills remaining space. Default is `true` for `command`, `false` for others. Only one column should have `expand = true`.
+
+#### Examples
+
+```toml
+# Minimal - more space for commands
+columns = ["duration", "command"]
+
+# With custom directory width
+columns = ["duration", { type = "directory", width = 30 }, "command"]
+
+# Show host for multi-machine sync users
+columns = ["duration", "time", "host", "command"]
+
+# Show exit codes prominently
+columns = ["exit", "duration", "command"]
+
+# Make directory expand instead of command
+columns = ["duration", "time", { type = "directory", expand = true }, { type = "command", expand = false }]
+```