Common Command Line Shells

A shell is a program that provides a user interface to access an operating system's services. It is the command line interface between the user and the operating system. There are various shells available for Linux, but some of the most commonly used ones are:

1. Bash (Bourne-Again SHell): This is the default shell on most Linux systems. It is compatible with the original Bourne shell and includes many advanced features.
2. Zsh (Z Shell): This is an interactive shell with many advanced features, including spelling correction and better tab completion.
3. Fish (Friendly Interactive SHell): This is a user-friendly shell that has syntax highlighting and suggestions for commands.
4. Ksh (Korn Shell): This is a POSIX-compliant shell that has many features similar to Bash.
5. Tcsh (Tenex C Shell): This is a shell with a C-like syntax and many advanced features, including command-line editing and history.

Each shell has its own unique features and advantages, and the choice of shell depends on personal preference and the specific task at hand.

To check which shell you are currently using, type the following command:

echo $SHELL 

This will display the path to the shell currently being used.

To switch to a different shell, you can use the chsh command. For example, to switch to Zsh, you can run the following command:

chsh -s /bin/zsh 

This will set Zsh as your default shell.

In summary, the choice of shell depends on personal preference and the specific task at hand. Bash is the default shell on most Linux systems, but there are many other shells available, each with its own unique features and advantages. You can use the chsh command to switch between shells.