Nushell
Cross-platform shell that pipes structured data like tables and records between commands.
Loved for passing structured tables and records between commands123 and for writing scripts more reliably than in Bash.456 The most common caveat is that it isn't preinstalled and adds little for people already fluent in Bash and Python,78 while one user cites years-old error-handling bugs.9
Why people recommend it
Structured pipelines · 3
Commands pass tables and records instead of text, which avoids fragile awk/grep parsing.
“Passes structured tables and records between commands : avoids fragile parsing of text with awk/grep.”
“Nushell already kind of has this philosophy”
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“if I really wanted the structured output of PS, I would run Nushell instead, which is far more consistent and useful”
Better than Bash · 3
Former Bash users find scripting more reliable and less painful.
“Switched to Nushell and I am not looking back.”
“With some practice it was far reliable than weeding out errors from bash scripts.”
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“I'll take this as an uninvited opportunity to plug nushell.”
Pleasant syntax · 3
Users call the syntax excellent and the shell a pleasure to use.
“This use case is definitely why I use nushell. It's not 800kb but it does a lot more and the syntax is excellent.”
“Nushell is amazing and a total pleasure to use.”
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“The little nushell I used was a real pleasure to work with”
Python alternative · 2
Some use it for project scripts where they would normally reach for Python.
“nushell (https://www.nushell.sh/) is essentially perfect for this use case! i use it rather than posix(y) shells”
“Nushell is amazing and a total pleasure to use.”
Replaces data tools · 2
It replaced jq, yq, htmlq and xsv for one user and helps explore nested JSON.
“discovered nushell which has replaced all of these for me”
“With some practice it was far reliable than weeding out errors from bash scripts.”
Editor integration · 1
Language-server support shows script errors, including path typos, while writing.
“Nushell is amazing and a total pleasure to use.”
Caveats and dissent
Not preinstalled · 1
It isn't available by default, so Bash or sh remains the choice for portable scripts.
“I don't really know what the value of Nushell is for me.”
Limited added value · 2
Some see little benefit for people who already know Bash and Python.
“I'm still rooting for Nushell as I think its a really cool idea.”
“I don't really know what the value of Nushell is for me.”
Error handling bugs · 1
One user gave up over long-standing error-handling and Ctrl-C bugs.
“I recommend you don't subject yourself to software that is this level of unreliable and unbothered about being so unreliable.”
Behind PowerShell · 1
One commenter says it is less complete and less intuitive than PowerShell.
“Nushell is nice, but lets not get carried away - it is decade away from pwsh”
Takes practice · 2
Users say it took practice, or even years, before it became their daily driver.
“With some practice it was far reliable than weeding out errors from bash scripts.”
“Nushell is amazing and a total pleasure to use.”
Often compared with
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- The Case for Nushell (2023) 3 mentions
- I can't believe PowerShell is good 2 mentions
- The tilde in your PATH may not be your HOME 2 mentions
- Ghostty 1.4 1 mention
- Nushell – A New Type of Shell 1 mention
- A Terminal Protocol for Program Status (OSC 7501) 1 mention
Also written as nushell. Data: nushell.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 20
“I use vi-mode with nushell”
“Nushell is nice, but lets not get carried away - it is decade away from pwsh”
“if I really wanted the structured output of PS, I would run Nushell instead, which is far more consistent and useful”
“With some practice it was far reliable than weeding out errors from bash scripts.”
“Might want to check out nushell (https://www.nushell.sh/)”
“Passes structured tables and records between commands : avoids fragile parsing of text with awk/grep.”
“Nushell already kind of has this philosophy”
“Switched to Nushell and I am not looking back.”
“I'll take this as an uninvited opportunity to plug nushell.”
“The little nushell I used was a real pleasure to work with”
“discovered nushell which has replaced all of these for me”
“I use Nushell and I'm always surprised at how few devs know about it.”
“This use case is definitely why I use nushell. It's not 800kb but it does a lot more and the syntax is excellent.”
“I love nushell because of its use of pipes.”
“I’ve been using something similar for years with Nushell.”
“I recommend you don't subject yourself to software that is this level of unreliable and unbothered about being so unreliable.”
“I don't really know what the value of Nushell is for me.”
“Nushell is amazing and a total pleasure to use.”
“I'm still rooting for Nushell as I think its a really cool idea.”
“nushell (https://www.nushell.sh/) is essentially perfect for this use case! i use it rather than posix(y) shells”