Editing Comparison of command shells (section)

==General characteristics==
{{sticky header}}
{{sort-under}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header sort-under" style="width: auto; text-align: center; font-size: smaller;"
|-
!Shell
!{{small|Usual<br>environment}}
!{{small|Usually<br>invoked}}
!{{small|Introduced}}
!{{small|[[Cross-platform|Platform-independent]]}}
!{{small|Default login shell in}}
!{{small|Default script shell in}}
!{{small|License}}
!{{small|Source code availability}}
!{{small|User<br>interface}}
!{{small|Mouse<br>support}}
!{{small|[[Unicode]]<br>support}}
!{{small|[[ISO 8601]]<br>support}}
!{{small|[[Console redirection]]}}
!{{small|[[Standard streams|Stream]] [[Redirection (computing)|redirection]]}}
!{{small|Configurability}}<!-- yes/no/which, persistent via config files, registry, temporary via env vars, startup scripts - might require a table of its own -->
!{{small|Startup/shutdown scripts}}
!{{small|Batch scripts}}
!{{small|Logging}}<!-- - might require a table of its own -->
!{{small|Available as statically linked, independent single file executable}}

|-
![[Thompson shell]]
|[[Unix|UNIX]]
|sh
|1971
|{{N/A}}
|[[Unix|UNIX]]
|[[Unix|UNIX]]
|{{N/A}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based [[Command-line interface|CLI]]
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{yes}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|-

![[Bourne shell]] 1977 version
|[[Version 7 Unix|7th Ed. UNIX]]
|sh
|1977
|{{yes|Yes<ref>A [http://www.collyer.net/who/geoff/v7sh.tar platform independent version] based on the historical UNIX V7 original source code is available from [http://www.collyer.net/who/geoff/ Geoff Collyer]</ref>}}
|[[Version 7 Unix|7th Ed. UNIX]]
|[[Version 7 Unix|7th Ed. UNIX]],
|{{proprietary|Proprietary<ref>The historic UNIX V7 version is available under [http://minnie.tuhs.org/Archive/Caldera-license.pdf a BSD-style license] through [[The Unix Heritage Society]] and others.</ref>}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based [[Command-line interface|CLI]]
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{citation needed span|date=December 2021|arbitrary {{mono|[[file descriptor|fd]]s}}}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via variables and options)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|.profile}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(Unix feature)}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}

|-

![[Bourne shell]] current version
|Various [[Unix|UNIX]]
|sh
|1977
|{{yes|Yes<ref>A [https://sourceforge.net/projects/schilytools/files/ platform independent version] based on the SVr4/Solaris source code is available from Jörg Schilling</ref>}}
|SunOS-5.x, FreeBSD<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/articles/linux-users/index.html |chapter-url=https://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/articles/linux-users/shells.html |title=FreeBSD Quickstart Guide for Linux Users |chapter=Chapter 2. Default Shell |author-first=John |author-last=Ferrell |publisher=The FreeBSD Documentation Project |access-date=2015-07-24}}</ref>
|SunOS-5.x
|{{free|[[Common Development and Distribution License|CDDL]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sourceforge.net/p/schillix-on/schillix-on/ci/default/tree/usr/src/cmd/sh/ |title=SchilliX-ON / SchilliX-ON Mercurial / [b1d9a2&#93; /usr/src/cmd/sh |publisher=Sourceforge.net |access-date=2015-07-02}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=April 2015}}}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based [[Command-line interface|CLI]]
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}<ref group="nb">Since mid 1990s.</ref>{{better source needed|date=April 2015}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{citation needed span|date=December 2021|arbitrary {{mono|fds}}}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via variables and options)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|.profile}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(Unix feature)}}
|{{yes}}<ref group="nb">if compiled with -DACCT.</ref>
|{{yes}}
|-

![[POSIX]] shell<ref>{{cite book |author=[[IEEE]] and The Open Group |title=IEEE 1003.1 Standard for Information Technology – Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX): Shell and Utilities, Issue 7 |date=2008}}</ref>
|[[POSIX]]
|sh
|1992<ref>As part of IEEE Std.1003.2-1992 (POSIX.2); integrated into IEEE Std.1003.1 with the 2001 revision.</ref>
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|[[POSIX]]
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|if used by configured locale}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{citation needed span|date=December 2021|arbitrary {{mono|fds}}}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via variables and options)}}
|{{small|Unspecified<br>({{mono|.profile}} given as an example)
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(Unix feature)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{N/A}}

|-

![[Bash (Unix shell)|bash]] (v4)
|[[POSIX]]
|bash, sh
|1989<ref>{{Cite newsgroup
|title=Bash is in beta release!
|author-first=Brian
|author-last=Fox
|editor-first=Leonard H.
|editor-last=Tower Jr.
|date=1989-06-07
|newsgroup=gnu.announce
|message-id=8906080235.AA01983@wheat-chex.ai.mit.edu
|url=https://groups.google.com/group/gnu.announce/msg/a509f48ffb298c35?hl=en
|access-date=2010-10-28}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|[[GNU]], [[Linux]] (default for root), [[macOS]] 10.3–10.14
|[[GNU]], [[Linux]], [[Haiku (operating system)|Haiku]], [[macOS]] 10.3–10.14
|{{free|[[GPL]]}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}<ref>{{citation |chapter-url=http://tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/bashver4.html |title=Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide |chapter=Chapter 37.3.2. Bash, version 4.2 |author-first=Mendel |author-last=Cooper |publisher=The Linux Documentation Project |access-date=2015-04-30}}, "Bash now supports the \u and \U Unicode escape."</ref>{{better source needed|reason=Unicode escape is just a small part of Unicode support. There's also editing and string handling. This works in bash 4.3.33, but needs a source.|date=May 2015}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|printf}} builtin)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{citation needed span|date=December 2021|arbitrary {{mono|fds}}}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via variables and options)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|/etc/profile}}, {{mono|.bash_profile}}, {{mono|.bash_login}}, {{mono|.profile}}, {{mono|.bashrc}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(Unix feature)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}

|-

![[C shell|csh]]
|[[POSIX]]
|csh
|1978
|{{yes}}
|[[SunOS]]
|{{dunno}}
|{{free|[[BSD licenses|BSD]]}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|stdin}}, {{mono|stdout}}, {{mono|stdout+stderr}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via variables and options)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|~/.cshrc}}, {{mono|~/.login}}, {{mono|~/.logout}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(Unix feature)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}

|-

![[tcsh]]
|[[POSIX]]
|tcsh, csh
|1983<ref name="Greer">{{Cite newsgroup
|author-first=Ken
|author-last=Greer
|title=C shell with command and filename recognition/completion
|date=1983-10-03
|newsgroup=net.sources
|url=https://groups.google.com/group/net.sources/msg/7073bf41cc5da330?hl=en
|access-date=2010-12-29}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|[[FreeBSD]] (former default for root),<ref>{{Cite web |title=FreeBSD Quickstart Guide for Linux® Users |url=https://docs.freebsd.org/en/articles/linux-users/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=FreeBSD Documentation Portal |language=en}}</ref> formerly [[Mac OS X]]
|{{dunno}}
|{{free|[[BSD licenses|BSD]]}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|stdin}}, {{mono|stdout}}, {{mono|stdout+stderr}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via variables and options)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|/etc/csh.cshrc}}, {{mono|/etc/csh.login}}, {{mono|~/.tcshrc}}, {{mono|~/.cshrc}}, {{mono|~/.history}}, {{mono|~/.login}}, {{mono|~/.cshdirs}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(Unix feature)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}

|-

![[Hamilton C shell]]
|[[Win32]], OS/2
|csh
|1988<ref name="PCWeek">{{cite journal
|author-last=Sussman
|author-first=Ann
|title=Hamilton C Shell Speeds Development Of OS/2 Applications
|journal=[[PC Week]]
|date=1988-12-26
|issue=1988-12-26 - 1989-01-02
|page=37
|url=https://hamiltonlabs.com/archives/Hamilton-C-Shell-Speeds-Development-of-OS-2-Applications-Ann-Sussman-PC-Week-Dec-26-1988.pdf
|access-date=2010-11-22}}</ref>
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(OS/2 version no longer maintained)}}
|{{optional}}
|{{optional}}
|{{proprietary}}
|{{no}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(-t timestamp operator)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|stdin}}, {{mono|stdout}}, {{mono|stdout+stderr}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via variables and options)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via login.csh, startup.csh and logout.csh)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(command line option)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}

|-

![[Scsh]]
|[[POSIX]]
|scsh
|1994
|{{yes}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{free|[[BSD licenses|BSD]]-style}}
|{{yes}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{yes}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{yes}}

|-

![[Korn Shell|ksh]] (ksh93t+)
|[[POSIX]]
|ksh
|1983<ref name="Gomes">{{Cite newsgroup
|author-first=Ron
|author-last=Gomes
|title=Toronto USENIX Conference Schedule (tentative)
|date=1983-06-09
|newsgroup=net.usenix
|url=https://groups.google.com/group/net.usenix/msg/fa6e1f7de3b63bba?hl=en
|access-date=2010-12-29}}</ref><ref name="Harris">
{{Cite newsgroup
|author-first=Guy
|author-last=Harris
|title=csh question
|date=1983-10-10
|newsgroup=net.flame
|url=https://groups.google.com/group/net.flame/msg/4f868085b65af530?hl=en
|access-date=2010-12-29}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|[[AIX]], [[HP-UX]]
|[[OpenSolaris]]
|{{free|[[Common Public License]]}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|printf}} builtin with {{mono|%(%F)T}}<ref name="ksh93-man-page">[https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E36784_01/html/E36870/ksh-1.html ksh93(1) man page]</ref>)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|fds}} up to 9)<ref name="ksh93-man-page"/>}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via variables and options)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(system and user's {{mono|profile}} and {{mono|kshrc}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(Unix feature)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}

|-

![[pdksh]]
|[[POSIX]]
|ksh, sh
|1989?
|{{yes}}
|[[OpenBSD]]<ref name="default OpenBSD">[http://www.openbsd.org/faq/faq10.html#rootshell Default shell in OpenBSD] is ksh (pdksh).</ref>
|[[OpenBSD]]<ref name="default OpenBSD"/>
|{{free|[[Public domain]]}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{citation needed span|date=December 2021|arbitrary {{mono|fds}}}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via variables and options)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|/etc/profile}}, {{mono|.profile}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(Unix feature)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}

|-

![[zsh]]
|[[POSIX]]
|zsh
|1990
|{{yes}}
|[[Deepin]], [[GoboLinux]], [[Grml]], [[macOS]] 10.15+, [[Kali Linux|Kali]] 2020.4+
|[[Grml]], [[macOS]] 10.15+
|{{free|[[MIT license|MIT]]-style}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|via additional code<ref>The zsh command line editor is fully configurable and can allow mouse support in various ways such as with [http://stchaz.free.fr/mouse.zsh Stéphane Chazelas's {{mono|mouse.zsh}}].</ref>}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(various internal features involving the date, by using the {{mono|%F}} {{mono|strftime}} format<ref>[http://linux.die.net/man/1/zsh zsh(1) man page and subpages]</ref> and the {{mono|-i}} option for the {{mono|fc}} builtin<ref>[http://linux.die.net/man/1/zshbuiltins zshbuiltins(1) man page]</ref>)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|fds}} up to 9)<ref>{{cite mailing list |url=https://www.zsh.org/mla/users/2015/msg00211.html |title=multi-digit file descriptors |date=2015-02-11 |access-date=2021-12-23 |mailing-list=zsh-users |last=Lefevre |first=Vincent}}</ref>}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via variables, options, functions, styles, etc.)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(system and user's {{mono|zshenv}}, {{mono|zprofile}}, {{mono|zshrc}}, {{mono|zlogin}}, {{mono|zlogout}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(Unix feature)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}

|-

![[Almquist shell|ash]]
|[[POSIX]]
|sh
|1989
|{{yes}}
|[[Minix]], [[BusyBox]] based systems
|[[NetBSD]], [[Minix]], [[BusyBox]] based systems
|{{free|[[BSD licenses|BSD]]-style}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{no}}
|{{partial}}<br>{{small|(for BusyBox, supported in command-line editing, but not in string handling<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=782228 |title=#782228 - busybox sh doesn't support multibyte characters in string handling - Debian Bug report logs |publisher=Bugs.debian.org |date=2015-04-09 |access-date=2015-07-02}}</ref>)}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{citation needed span|date=December 2021|arbitrary {{mono|fds}}}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via variables and options)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|/etc/profile}}, {{mono|.profile}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(Unix feature)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}

|-

![[CP/M#Console_Command_Processor|CCP]]
|[[CP/M]], [[MP/M]]
|(CCP)
|1976 (1974)
|{{no}}
|[[CP/M]] (no login), [[MP/M]]
|[[CP/M]], [[MP/M]]
|{{proprietary|Freeware (originally proprietary)}}
|{{yes}} (originally closed-source)
|Text-based [[Command-line interface|CLI]]
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}} (automatic via {{mono|$$$.SUB}})
|{{partial}}<br>{{small|(only via external {{mono|SUBMIT}} command to update {{mono|$$$.SUB}})}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}

|-

![[COMMAND.COM]]
|[[DOS]]
|[[COMMAND (DOS command)|COMMAND]]
|1980
|{{no}}<br>{{small|(3rd party implementations, not bound to a specific DOS vendor or version, available)}}
|[[DOS]], [[Windows 95]], [[Windows 98|98]], [[Windows 98 SE|SE]], [[Windows ME|ME]]
|[[DOS]], [[Windows 95]], [[Windows 98|98]], [[Windows 98 SE|SE]], [[Windows ME|ME]]
|vendor specific, f.e. [[Microsoft|MS]]-[[Software license agreement|EULA]],<ref group="nb">MS-DOS and Windows component – covered by a valid license for MS-DOS or Microsoft Windows.</ref> or [[BSD]]/[[GPL]] (free clones)
|{{no}} (except for OpenDOS, DR-DOS, PTS/DOS and FreeDOS)
|Text-based CLI
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}} (except for DR-DOS)
|{{yes}} (via {{mono|COMMAND con:}} or {{mono|CTTY con:}})
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|stdin}}, {{mono|stdout}})}}
|{{yes}} (via startup parameters and environment variables, DR-DOS also supports {{mono|DIR /C /R}} user-default switch command)
|{{yes}} (automatic {{mono|\AUTOEXEC.BAT}} for primary shell, or explicitly via {{mono|/P}}, {{mono|/P:filename.bat}} or {{mono|/K}} startup options)
|{{yes}} (via {{mono|CALL}} command or {{mono|/C}} and {{mono|/K}} startup options)
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}

|-

!OS/2 [[CMD.EXE (OS/2)|CMD.EXE]]
|[[OS/2]], [[eComStation]], [[ArcaOS]]
|[[CMD (OS/2 command)|CMD]]
|1987
|{{no}}
|[[OS/2]], [[eComStation]], [[ArcaOS]]
|[[OS/2]], [[eComStation]], [[ArcaOS]]
|{{proprietary|[[IBM]]-[[Software license agreement|EULA]]}}<ref group="nb">OS/2 component – covered by a valid license for OS/2.</ref>
|{{no}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|stdin}}, {{mono|stdout}}, {{mono|stderr}})}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{partial}} (only via {{mono|/K}} startup option)
|{{yes}} (via {{mono|CALL}} command or {{mono|/C}} and {{mono|/K}} startup options)
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}

|-

!Windows [[cmd.exe|CMD.EXE]]<ref group="nb" name="cmd /x">Command extensions enabled, or "CMD /X".</ref>
|[[Win32]]
|[[CMD (Windows command)|CMD]]
|1993
|{{no}}
|[[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] NT, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista
|[[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] NT, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista
|{{proprietary|[[Microsoft|MS]]-[[Software license agreement|EULA]]}}<ref group="nb" name="ReferenceA">Windows component – covered by a valid license for Microsoft Windows.</ref>
|{{no}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{no}}
|{{partial}} ({{mono|[[CHCP (command)|CHCP]] [[Code page 65001|65001]]}} for [[UTF-8]], but program arguments are still encoded in local codepage)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}} (via registry, startup parameters, and environment variables)
|{{yes}} (automatic via registry, or explicitly via {{mono|/K}} startup option)
|{{yes}} (via {{mono|CALL}} command or {{mono|/C}} and {{mono|/K}} startup options)
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}

|-

![[4DOS]], [[NDOS]]
|[[DOS]], [[Windows 95]], [[Windows 98|98]], [[Windows 98 SE|SE]], [[Windows ME|ME]]
|[[4DOS]], [[NDOS]]
|1989 (1986)<!-- Rex Conn started 4DOS in 1986, first versions were posted on Compuserve in 1988, shareware versions (4DOS 2.0) were released through JP Software since 1989. -->
|{{no}}<br>{{small|(not bound to a specific OS vendor or version)}}
|{{optional}}
|{{optional}}
|{{free|[[MIT License]], with restrictions}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based CLI with [[text-based user interface|TUI]] extensions
|{{yes}} (popups, help system, {{mono|%_MOUSE}} internal variable, {{mono|INKEY /M}} command)
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}} (via {{mono|CTTY con:}}, except for {{mono|DRAWBOX}}, {{mono|DRAWLINE}}, {{mono|DRAWVLINE}}, {{mono|LIST}}, {{mono|SCREEN}}, {{mono|SCRPUT}}, {{mono|SELECT}}, {{mono|VSCRPUT}} commands and file&nbsp;/ directory coloring)
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|stdin}}, {{mono|stdout}}, {{mono|stderr}}, {{mono|stdout+stderr}})}}
|{{yes}} (via {{mono|4DOS.INI}}/{{mono|NDOS.INI}} file, startup parameters, environment variables, {{mono|SETDOS}} command)
|{{yes}} (automatic {{mono|\AUTOEXEC.BAT}} for primary shell and {{mono|4START.BTM}}/{{mono|4START.BAT}} as well as {{mono|4EXIT.BTM}}/{{mono|4EXIT.BAT}} for any shell, or explicitly via {{mono|/P}}, {{mono|/P:dir\filename.ext}} or {{mono|/K}} startup options)
|{{yes}} (via {{mono|CALL}} command or {{mono|/C}} and {{mono|/K}} startup options)
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}

|-

![[4OS2]]
|[[OS/2]], [[eComStation]], [[ArcaOS]]
|[[4OS2]]
|1992
|{{no}}<br>{{small|(not bound to specific OS/2 versions)}}
|{{optional}} (but bundled with ArcaOS)
|{{optional}}
|{{proprietary|Freeware}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|stdin}}, {{mono|stdout}}, {{mono|stderr}}, {{mono|stdout+stderr}})}}
|{{yes}} (via {{mono|4OS2.INI}} file, startup parameters, environment variables, {{mono|SETDOS}} command)
|{{yes}} (automatic via {{mono|4START.CMD}}/{{mono|4START.BTM}} as well as {{mono|4EXIT.CMD}}/{{mono|4EXIT.BTM}} files, or explicitly via {{mono|/K startup.cmd}} option)
|{{yes}} (via {{mono|CALL}} command or {{mono|/C}} and {{mono|/K}} startup options)
|{{yes}}
|{{dunno}}

|-

![[Take Command Console|TCC]]<br>(formerly 4NT)
|[[Win32]]
|TCC
|1993
|{{no}}<br>{{small|(not bound to specific NT versions)}}
|optional
|optional
|{{proprietary|[[Shareware]]}}
|{{no}}
|Text-based CLI ([[Take Command (command line interpreter)|Take Command]]: [[GUI]])
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(console mouse, popups, help system, {{mono|%_XMOUSE}}, {{mono|%_YMOUSE}} internal variables, {{mono|INKEY /M}} command)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|stdin}}, {{mono|stdout}}, {{mono|stderr}}, {{mono|stdout+stderr}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via registry, {{mono|TCMD.INI}}/{{mono|4NT.INI}} file, startup parameters, environment variables, {{mono|SETDOS}} command)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(automatic via registry and {{mono|TCSTART}}/{{mono|4START}} as well as {{mono|TCEXIT}}/{{mono|4EXIT}}, or explicitly via {{mono|/K}} startup option)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via {{mono|CALL}} command or {{mono|/C}} and {{mono|/K}} startup options)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}

|-

![[DIGITAL Command Language|VMS DCL]]<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/732final/9996/9996pro_contents.html
|title=HP OpenVMS DCL Dictionary
|access-date=2009-03-23
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325041517/http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/732FINAL/9996/9996pro_contents.html
|archive-date=25 March 2007
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>
|[[OpenVMS]]
|{{small|Automatically for login/interactive process}}
|1977?
|{{yes}}
|VMS
|VMS
|Proprietary, bundled in VMS
|{{no|by special license only}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{yes|with DECwindows/Motif}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|Yes, at least to 1988 standard}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|sys$input}}, {{mono|sys$output}} assignment)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via symbols, logical names, and options)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(SYS$MANAGER:SYLOGIN.COM and user defined LOGIN.COM)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}

|-

![[PowerShell]]
||[[.NET Core|.NET]],<br>[[.NET Framework]]
|PowerShell
|2006
|{{yes}}
|[[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] 10, 8, Server 2008, 7<ref group="nb" name="optional">Microsoft PowerShell is installed by default on Windows 7 and later. It is an optional download for users of Windows Vista or Windows XP.</ref>
|[[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] 10, 8, Server 2008, 7
|{{free|[[MIT license|MIT]]-style}}
|{{yes}}
|Graphical CLI
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via variables and options)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(%USERPROFILE%\Documents \WindowsPowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(PowerShell feature)}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}

|-

![[Rc (Unix shell)|rc]]
|[[Plan 9 from Bell Labs|Plan 9]], [[POSIX]]
|rc
|1989
|{{yes}}
|[[Plan 9 from Bell Labs|Plan 9]], [[Version 10 Unix]]
|[[Plan 9 from Bell Labs|Plan 9]], [[Version 10 Unix]]
|{{free|[[MIT License]]<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Plan-9-2021
|title=Plan 9 Copyright Transferred To Foundation, MIT Licensed Code Released
|last=Larabel
|first=Michael
|date=2021-03-23
|website=Phoronix
|access-date=2021-03-28}}</ref>}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{dunno}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(via options)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|$HOME/.rcrc}})}}
|{{yes}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{yes}}

|-

![[BeanShell]]
|[[Java virtual machine|Java]]
|{{dunno}}
|2005
|{{yes}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{free|[[LGPL]]}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{yes}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{yes}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{no}}

|-

![[Friendly interactive shell|fish]]
|[[POSIX]]
|fish
|2005<ref>{{cite web
|title=Fish - The friendly interactive shell
|author-first=Axel
|author-last=Liljencrantz
|date=2005-05-17
|url=https://lwn.net/Articles/136232/
|access-date=2013-04-08}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|[[GhostBSD]]
|{{dunno}}
|{{free|[[GPL]]}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{dunno}}
|{{yes}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{citation needed span|date=December 2021|arbitrary {{mono|fds}}}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(through environment variables and via web interface through {{mono|fish_config}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|/etc/fish/config.fish}} and {{mono|~/.config/fish/config.fish}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(Unix feature)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|~/.config/fish/fish_history*}})}}
|{{dunno}}

|-

!Ion
|[[Redox (operating system)|Redox]], [[Linux]]
|ion
|2015<ref>{{cite web
|title=d79c8f511573fb7710abc63b4236a40022914520
|author-first=Jeremy
|author-last=Soller
|date=2015-11-15
|url=https://gitlab.redox-os.org/redox-os/ion/commit/d79c8f511573fb7710abc63b4236a40022914520
|access-date=2019-08-03}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|[[Redox (operating system)|Redox]]
|[[Redox (operating system)|Redox]]
|{{free|[[MIT license|MIT]]}}
|{{yes}}
|Text-based CLI
|{{dunno}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{citation needed span|date=December 2021|arbitrary {{mono|fds}}}})}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|(follows the XDG Base Directory spec)}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|~/.config/ion/initrc}})}}
|{{yes|Yes}}
|{{yes}}<br>{{small|({{mono|~/.local/share/ion/history}})}}
|{{partial}} (not distributed as a standalone executable, but it can be built as one)

|-

!Shell
!Usual environment
!Usually invoked
!Introduced
![[Cross-platform|Platform-independent]]
!Default login shell in
!Default script shell in
!License
!Source code availability
!User interface
!Mouse support
![[Unicode]] support
![[ISO 8601]] support
![[Console redirection]]
![[Standard streams|Stream]] [[Redirection (computing)|redirection]]
!Configurability<!-- yes/no/which, persistent via config files, registry, temporary via env vars, startup scripts - might require a table of its own -->
!Startup/shutdown scripts
!Batch scripts
!Logging<!-- - might require a table of its own -->
!Available as statically linked, independent single file executable

|}