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the xonsh shell VS Elvish

Compare the xonsh shell VS Elvish and see what are their differences

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the xonsh shell logo the xonsh shell

Xonsh is a Python-powered, cross-platform, Unix-gazing shell language and command prompt.

Elvish logo Elvish

Friendly and expressive Unix shell
  • the xonsh shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-07
  • Elvish Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-29

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.

Elvish features and specs

  • User-Friendly Syntax
    Elvish features a syntax that is both expressive and easy to read, making it approachable for newcomers and experienced users alike.
  • Interactive and Scripted Use
    It supports both interactive use as a shell and scripting, allowing users to leverage its power in various environments.
  • Rich Interactive Features
    Elvish offers features like a powerful, customizable prompt, auto-suggestions, and command history, enhancing the interactive shell experience.
  • Extensible and Composable
    Users can extend the shell's functionality with custom scripts and modules, promoting a highly composable workflow.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Designed to run on multiple operating systems, Elvish provides a consistent experience across platforms.

Possible disadvantages of Elvish

  • Limited Ecosystem
    Compared to more established shells, Elvish has a smaller ecosystem of plugins and extensions, which may limit its functionality for some users.
  • Learning Curve
    While its syntax is user-friendly, transitioning from more traditional shells may require an adjustment period for habitual users.
  • Performance Overhead
    Due to its advanced features, Elvish may have a higher performance overhead compared to simpler shells, impacting speed in some use cases.
  • Less Mature Compared to Alternatives
    As a relatively new shell, Elvish may not be as stable or feature-complete as longer-established shells like Bash or Zsh.

Analysis of the xonsh shell

Overall verdict

  • If you are looking for a shell that offers a blend of Python scripting power and traditional shell functionality, xonsh is a good option. Its flexibility and ease-of-use make it a strong choice for those who frequently work with both Python and shell commands.

Why this product is good

  • The xonsh shell is considered good because it combines the syntax and features of Python with the usability of traditional shell scripting. This allows for more powerful scripting capabilities while retaining familiarity for those who are accustomed to shell environments. The shell is also highly customizable and can be extended with Python libraries, making it versatile for a variety of tasks.

Recommended for

  • Developers and engineers who frequently use Python alongside shell commands.
  • Users who need a highly customizable and extensible shell environment.
  • Anyone looking to leverage Python's robust library ecosystem within their terminal workflows.

the xonsh shell videos

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Elvish videos

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More videos:

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to the xonsh shell and Elvish)

the xonsh shell

Elvish

Cryptocurrencies
71 71%
Cryptocurrencies
29% 29
Blockchain
67 67%
Blockchain
33% 33
Developer Tools
58 58%
Developer Tools
42% 42
Cryptocurrency Wallets
100 100%
Cryptocurrency Wallets
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.

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 / about 2 months 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 / about 2 months 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 / 5 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 / 7 months ago
  • The Dune Shell
    Interesting thought experiment. Reminds me of my cousin's project Xonsh https://xon.sh/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
View more

Elvish mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

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

fish shell - The friendly interactive shell.

Nu Shell - A modern shell written in Rust

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

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.

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.

win-bash - win-bash is a Windows port of the famous GNU bash (see GNU Bash homepage).

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