Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PowerShell Plus VS the xonsh shell

Compare PowerShell Plus VS the xonsh shell and see what are their differences

PowerShell Plus logo PowerShell Plus

Learn how to learn and master PowerShell fast with an interactive learning center, a powerful IDE, pre-loaded scripts, and a PowerShell Editor… all for free.

the xonsh shell logo the xonsh shell

Xonsh is a Python-powered, cross-platform, Unix-gazing shell language and command prompt.
  • PowerShell Plus Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-02
  • the xonsh shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-07

PowerShell Plus features and specs

  • Comprehensive Script Editor
    PowerShell Plus offers an advanced script editor with IntelliSense, syntax coloring, and code completion, making script development faster and more efficient.
  • Integrated Debugger
    It includes a powerful debugger that allows step-by-step execution, variable viewing, and real-time correction of errors in scripts, enhancing script reliability.
  • Preloaded Learning Resources
    The tool comes with a library of preloaded samples, learning information, and quick guides to help users, especially beginners, learn and implement PowerShell effectively.
  • Intuitive User Interface
    PowerShell Plus provides a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, reducing the learning curve for new users and improving productivity for seasoned professionals.
  • Real-time Analytics
    With real-time performance monitoring and resource reporting, users can gain insights into script performance and optimize them accordingly.

Possible disadvantages of PowerShell Plus

  • Limited Updates
    As a free tool, PowerShell Plus may not receive frequent updates or new features compared to paid alternatives, which can affect long-term usability.
  • Platform Dependency
    This tool is Windows-based, limiting its use on non-Windows operating systems unless using virtualization or dual-boot solutions.
  • Resource Intensive
    PowerShell Plus can be resource-intensive, potentially slowing down system performance on less powerful hardware configurations.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite included resources, beginners may still find the learning curve steep due to the complexity of PowerShell scripting, especially for advanced functions.
  • Community Support
    As a niche tool, it may have a smaller community support base compared to more widely used PowerShell IDEs, impacting the availability of communal help and resources.

the xonsh shell features and specs

  • Python Integration
    Xonsh allows the use of Python throughout the shell session, enabling powerful scripting, access to Python libraries, and seamless integration with Python code.
  • Extensible
    Due to its foundation in Python, xonsh is highly extensible and customizable, allowing users to create plugins or modify the shell's behavior to suit their needs.
  • Unified Environment
    Xonsh provides a unified environment for both command-line operations and Python scripting, reducing the need to switch contexts and improving workflow efficiency.
  • Cross-Platform
    Xonsh runs on multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing a consistent shell experience across different platforms.
  • Rich Features
    Xonsh offers features like syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and history search, which enhance productivity and make the shell more user-friendly.

Possible disadvantages of the xonsh shell

  • Learning Curve
    Users unfamiliar with Python or new to xonsh may face a steeper learning curve, especially when transitioning from other shell environments.
  • Performance Overhead
    Being implemented in Python, xonsh might experience performance overhead, particularly when dealing with large and complex shell scripts compared to traditional shells like Bash.
  • Community and Support
    While growing, xonsh's community is smaller than those of more established shells, which might affect the availability of community support and third-party resources.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Scripts or features heavily reliant on legacy shell-specific behavior may face compatibility issues, requiring adjustments when running in xonsh.
  • Limited Adoption
    As a relatively new shell, xonsh may have limited adoption in enterprise environments, potentially impacting its integration into existing systems or workflows.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PowerShell Plus and the xonsh shell)
Cryptocurrencies
30 30%
70% 70
Blockchain
31 31%
69% 69
Developer Tools
33 33%
67% 67
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, the xonsh shell seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 78 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

PowerShell Plus mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of PowerShell Plus yet. Tracking of PowerShell Plus recommendations started around Mar 2021.

the xonsh shell mentions (78)

  • Advanced Shell Scripting with Bash (2006) [pdf]
    (Not sure about the equivalent of shlex.quote, but in the worst case, you can just use "from shlex import quote as q" or something). So yes, there are good alternatives to bash - even Python based. [0] https://xon.sh/. - Source: Hacker News / 16 days ago
  • Advanced Shell Scripting with Bash (2006) [pdf]
    > Wondering what others have found to address this. Or if they just stuck with Bash, since it's just not going away anytime soon. If you're familiar with Python, give xonsh (https://xon.sh/) a go. It's a Bash-like shell but the syntax is Python. It has the same ease of writing shell scripts as Bash does, sans the insane language. Been using it since 2018. - Source: Hacker News / 16 days ago
  • Fish 4.0: The Fish of Theseus
    Also, do consider xonsh.[1] It's a Bash-like shell written in Python. It has significant overlap with the awesomeness of fish, and has the advantage of being able to write your shell scripts in a Python dialect. So if you know Python, the mental burden is much lower. On top of that, it's cross platform, since Python is. No WSL needed. I switched to it in 2018 and haven't looked back. Originally it was just because... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • A Second Search for Bash Scripting Alternatives
    No xonsh? (https://xon.sh/) Seems to hit most of the requirements. Been happily using it since 2018. It's great not to have to learn a whole other language just to do scripting. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • The Dune Shell
    Interesting thought experiment. Reminds me of my cousin's project Xonsh https://xon.sh/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing PowerShell Plus and the xonsh shell, you can also consider the following products

GNU Bourne Again SHell - Bash is the shell, or command language interpreter, that will appear in the GNU operating system.

fish shell - The friendly interactive shell.

PowerShell Studio - PowerShell Studio is the easiest GUI designer and script generator available.

Nu Shell - A modern shell written in Rust

zsh - The Z shell (Zsh) is a Unix shell that can be used as an interactive login shell and as a powerful command interpreter for shell scripting.

PowerGui - A graphical user interface and script editor for Microsoft Windows https://alternativeto.