How to make Yash my default shell on Linux?

Edit /etc/shells to add Yash's installation path, then use the chsh command to change your login shell. The README's Basic Configuration section provides detailed steps for this setup.

Yash vs Bash: which is better for strict POSIX scripting?

Yash is designed to be more POSIX-compliant than Bash, making it ideal for portable scripts that must adhere to standards. Bash offers more extensions but can deviate from POSIX, so Yash is the safer choice for compliance.

Does Yash have tab completion like Zsh?

Yes, Yash includes intelligent command line completion with predefined scripts for over 100 commands, similar to Zsh's completion system but with a focus on POSIX compliance, as listed in the key features.

How to use global aliases in Yash?

Define aliases in the rc initialization file using the alias command; they work anywhere in the command line, not just at the beginning, as described in the Global Aliases feature in the README.

What are Yash's limitations with non-ASCII text?

Yash may not handle non-ASCII characters correctly in some locales, particularly on Solaris, as mentioned in the Known Issues. This can be worked around by modifying config.h, but it requires manual intervention.

Yash or Zsh for daily interactive use?

Yash offers modern interactive features like command prediction and completion, but Zsh has a larger plugin ecosystem and themes. Choose Yash for POSIX compliance with enhancements, or Zsh for broader customization.

Open-Awesome

yash

GPL-2.0Shell2.61

A POSIX-compliant command line shell with advanced interactive features like global aliases, arrays, and intelligent command line completion.

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541 stars43 forks0 contributors

What is yash?

Yash is a POSIX-compliant command line shell written in C99 that aims to be the most standards-compliant shell while offering modern features for interactive use and scripting. It provides strict adherence to POSIX specifications alongside practical enhancements like global aliases, arrays, and intelligent command line completion.

Target Audience

System administrators, developers, and power users who need a POSIX-compliant shell with modern interactive features for daily command line work and shell scripting.

Value Proposition

Yash offers the best of both worlds: strict POSIX compliance for portable scripting combined with modern interactive features that enhance productivity, making it a compelling alternative to traditional shells like bash and zsh.

Overview

Yet another shell

Use Cases

Best For

Writing portable shell scripts that need strict POSIX compliance
Interactive command line work with advanced completion and prediction
System administration tasks requiring reliable shell behavior
Learning POSIX shell scripting with a standards-compliant environment
Users who want bash-like features with stronger standards compliance
Environments where shell portability across different Unix-like systems is critical

Not Ideal For

Scripts that rely heavily on Bash-specific syntax or extensions (e.g., certain array operations or brace expansion patterns)
Environments requiring robust processing of binary data or null characters in shell input
Users seeking a shell with a vast ecosystem of community plugins and themes, like Zsh with Oh My Zsh

Pros & Cons

Pros

Strict Standards Compliance

Aims to be the most POSIX-compliant shell, ensuring scripts are portable across Unix-like systems, as stated in the README's philosophy and development status.

Modern Interactive Tools

Includes global aliases, command prediction, and intelligent completion for over 100 commands, enhancing daily command line productivity based on the feature list.

Fractional Arithmetic Support

Supports fractional numbers in arithmetic expansion, allowing for precise calculations not commonly available in all shells, as highlighted in the key features.

Advanced Redirection

Offers socket, pipeline, and process redirection capabilities, providing flexible I/O control for complex scripting tasks, per the feature descriptions.

Cons

Binary Data Limitations

Input containing null characters is partially ignored, breaking scripts that process binary data, as admitted in the Implementation Notes section.

Locale-Sensitive Issues

May not correctly handle non-ASCII characters in some locales, especially on Solaris, limiting use in internationalized environments, as noted in Known Issues.

Smaller Ecosystem

Has a smaller community and fewer third-party plugins compared to Bash or Zsh, reducing out-of-the-box functionality and support resources.

Open Source Alternative To

yash is an open-source alternative to the following products:

ksh

ksh (KornShell) is a Unix shell and command language that is backward-compatible with the Bourne shell and includes features from the C shell and other shells.

bash

A Unix shell and command language that provides a command-line interface for interacting with operating systems, widely used in Linux and macOS.

zsh

Zsh (Z Shell) is an extended Bourne shell with many improvements, including features for interactive use and scripting.

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