Introducing Nushell: A Modern Command Line Experience

Installation

In this post, I want to introduce you to #nushell, a tool that connects simple commands using pipes and brings a modern style to development. Nushell is not just a shell or a programming language; it bridges the gap between the two by integrating a rich programming language with a full-featured shell into one cohesive package.

Nushell takes inspiration from various familiar tools: traditional shells like Bash, object-based shells like PowerShell, gradually typed languages like TypeScript, functional programming, systems programming, and more. However, rather than trying to be a jack of all trades, Nushell focuses on excelling in a few key areas:

• Providing a flexible, cross-platform shell with a modern feel.
• Solving problems as a modern programming language that works with the structure of your data.
• Offering clear error messages and clean IDE support.

Why I Love Nushell

Nushell is one of my favorite command-line interfaces (CLI) because it is convenient and flexible. While there are many CLIs out there, Nushell stands out to me for several reasons:

1. Free to Use: Nushell is completely free, which is always a plus.
2. Amazing Auto-completion: The auto-completion feature is impressive. It remembers previous commands and suggests them, making the workflow smoother and faster.

Some Useful Nushell Commands

Here are some commands that I find particularly useful:

• Finding the Configuration Path: To get the full path to the Nushell configuration, use the following command:

  $nu.config-path

Disclaimer

I am using Windows 10, so all the commands and examples provided here are based on that environment. However, Nushell should work similarly on Mac and Linux.
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Detailed Nushell Commands

Let's dive into some specific Nushell commands and explore their functionalities:

1. Navigating Directories

To navigate through directories, you can use the familiar cd command. For example:

cd documents

This command will change the current directory to the documents folder.

2. Listing Directory Contents

To list the contents of a directory, you can use the ls command:

ls

This command will display all files and folders in the current directory in a neatly formatted table.

3. Viewing File Content

To view the contents of a file, use the open command followed by the file name:

start mytext.txt

This command reads the content of myfile.txt and displays it in the shell.

4. Filtering Data

Nushell shines with its ability to filter data using pipes. For instance, to filter files by a specific pattern, you can use the where command:

ls | where name == "myfile.txt"

This command lists all files named myfile.txt in the current directory.

5. Sorting Data

You can easily sort data using the sort-by command. For example, to sort files by size:

ls | sort-by size

This command lists all files in the current directory, sorted by their size.

6. Getting Help

To get help with any command, use the help command followed by the command name:

help ls

This command provides detailed information about how to use the ls command.

7. Custom Aliases

You can create custom aliases for commands to save time. For example, to create an alias for listing directory contents, you can use:

alias ll = "ls -l"

Now, using ll will execute ls -l.

8. Running Scripts

Nushell supports running scripts. To execute a script file, use the following command:

source myscript.nu

This command runs the myscript.nu script within the Nushell environment.

9. Command History

Nushell keeps track of your command history. To view your recent commands, you can use:

history

This command displays a list of recently executed commands, allowing you to reuse or modify them as needed.

These are just a few examples of the powerful commands available in Nushell. By exploring and utilizing these commands, you can enhance your productivity and streamline your workflow. Give them a try and see how Nushell can transform your command-line experience!

Conclusion

In conclusion, Nushell is a powerful and modern CLI that combines the best aspects of traditional shells and modern programming languages. Give it a try and see how it can enhance your development workflow.