Software Alternatives & Startups

iTerm2 VS KornShell

Compare iTerm2 VS KornShell and see what are their differences

iTerm2

A terminal emulator for macOS that does amazing things.

Rating
4.0 · 1 review
Pricing
Open source
KornShell

The KornShell language was designed and developed by David G. Korn at AT&T Bell Laboratories.

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, iTerm2 seems to be a lot more popular than KornShell. While we know about 119 links to iTerm2, we've tracked only 1 mention of KornShell.

social mentions
119 vs 1
Developer Tools popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 37

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

iTerm2
KornShell
Website iterm2.com kornshell.com
Pricing
Open source
—
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

iTerm2 6 features
KornShell 5 features
  • Versatility
    iTerm2 supports a wide range of features such as split panes, multiple tab management, and hotkey-activated terminal windows, making it highly versatile for different workflows.
  • Customization
    Offers extensive customization options, including themes, color schemes, and key bindings, allowing users to tailor the terminal to their preferences.
  • Advanced Features
    Includes advanced functionality like instant replay, which allows users to rewind their terminal session, and integration with automation tools like AppleScript.
  • Performance
    Designed to be efficient and responsive, ensuring it performs well even with multiple sessions and tabs open simultaneously.
  • Integrations
    Seamless integration with macOS features such as native notifications, fullscreen mode, and support for external editors.
  • Community Support
    Active community and comprehensive documentation, which can be very helpful for troubleshooting and learning advanced configurations.

Possible disadvantages

  • Mac-Only
    iTerm2 is exclusive to macOS, which means users on other operating systems cannot utilize its features.
  • Complexity
    The sheer number of features and customization options can be overwhelming for beginners, requiring a learning curve to utilize efficiently.
  • System Resource Usage
    iTerm2 may consume more system resources compared to simpler terminal emulators, which could be a concern on lower-end hardware.
  • Update Frequency
    Occasional updates can introduce bugs or unexpected behavior, requiring users to adjust settings or find workarounds.
  • Compatibility
    KornShell (ksh) maintains backward compatibility with Bourne Shell (sh), making it easy for users familiar with sh to transition without altering their existing scripts substantially.
  • Advanced Scripting Features
    ksh offers advanced scripting capabilities such as associative arrays, floating-point arithmetic, and built-in regular expressions, providing more powerful and flexible scripting tools.
  • Job Control
    It provides robust job control, allowing users to manage and switch between multiple background tasks and processes easily.
  • Interactive Use
    ksh supports features like command aliasing, history manipulation, and inline editing, enhancing its utility in interactive command-line environments.
  • Performance
    ksh scripts often execute faster than those written in other shells like csh, due to more efficient resource management and execution mechanisms.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity
    ksh is more complex compared to simpler shells like sh, making it potentially overwhelming for beginners or those seeking simplicity.
  • Portability
    Not all systems come with ksh pre-installed, and differences between ksh88 and ksh93 can lead to portability issues across different Unix-like systems.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to its rich feature set, ksh has a steeper learning curve, which could be a barrier for new users unfamiliar with shell scripting.
  • Limited Adoption
    Despite its capabilities, ksh is not as widely adopted as other shells like bash or zsh, meaning less community support and fewer resources available.
  • Licensing
    ksh is under the Common Public License, which may pose constraints for users or organizations compared to more permissively licensed shells.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

iTerm2
KornShell

Overall verdict

  • iTerm2 is regarded as an excellent terminal emulator for macOS due to its robust feature set and usability, making it a top choice for power users.

Why this product is good

  • iTerm2 is often praised for its advanced features, customization options, and efficiency that enhance productivity for users who work with the command line frequently. It offers split panes, hotkey window, undo close, instant replay, and a highly configurable interface that caters to power users, making it a versatile tool for developers and system administrators.

Recommended for

  • Developers and programmers who need a highly customizable terminal.
  • System administrators who require powerful scripting and automation capabilities.
  • Users who frequently work with command-line interfaces and require multiple sessions handled efficiently.
  • Anyone seeking an enhanced, feature-rich alternative to the default macOS terminal.

No analysis of KornShell yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

iTerm2 1 video + Add
KornShell 0 videos + Add

Customizing iterm2 with ZSH and PowerLevel9k | Z shell Tutorial

No KornShell videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
iTerm2
KornShell
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
SSH
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using iTerm2 and KornShell. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

iTerm2 4.0 · 1 review
KornShell no reviews yet

We have no reviews of KornShell yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

iTerm2 119 mentions
KornShell 1 mention

View more

  • Trying to Set-up android9(ver6) in VirtualBox
    Well now I'm at the point that I see it's calling for the Korn shell, which I'm not directly familiar with, and seemed to stop on the mouse input driver. I'll change my VBox mouse device settings and see what happens from there... Source: over 4 years ago

Alternatives to iTerm2 and KornShell

When comparing iTerm2 and KornShell, you can also consider the following products.