[bin+zsh] dotfiles-search-commits: expand functionality and migrate from alias to standalone script #36

In our current local WIP state, the dotfiles-search-commits helper has evolved well beyond its original form as a simple alias for grepping commit logs. It now supports multiple modes (log, log-recent, code) with aliases, regex options (basic/extended/perl), structured help/error handling, implicit fallbacks for common cases, and clearer usage examples.

While this expansion significantly improves usability, it also introduces complexity around return vs exit behavior when defined as a shell function inside aliases.zsh. Sourcing functions that use exit can inadvertently terminate the entire interactive shell session. At this stage, it’s more sustainable to promote this into a proper bin/ script so that it behaves like a standalone CLI tool without these caveats.

• https://gist.github.com/0xdevalias/063ed7edafd735fd141b94c04ef38ed5#zsh-script-patterns-handling-nested-function-exits-and-returns-without-killing-your-shell

  • Zsh Script Patterns: Handling Nested Function Exits and Returns Without Killing Your Shell

Remaining TODOs / Known Issues:

• Migrate implementation from zsh/aliases.zsh into bin/dotfiles-search-commits (or bin/dotfiles-history? which should be the name and which the alias?) for safer execution.
  • Update aliases to correctly point to the new bin/ script (if they are still needed)
• Cleanup:
  • Remove temporary debug scaffolding (inner_function_test).
  • Remove return_or_exit and similar hacks once promoted to a proper script.
• Broader testing before committing/pushing:
  • Verify consistent handling of exit codes across environments (zsh, bash).
  • Review error handling and edge cases (missing patterns, invalid regex mode).

See Also

• Zsh Script Patterns: Handling Nested Function Exits and Returns Without Killing Your Shell (0xdevalias' gist)