Oils provides OSH, a shell intended as an upgrade path from Bash, alongside its documentation.
Oils
Oils offers an upgrade path from Bash to a different shell language and runtime, with support for shell and other language users.
About Oils
Oils is a project that offers a path from Bash to a different shell language and runtime. It has two parts: OSH, which runs existing shell scripts, and YSH, a language aimed at Python and JavaScript users who prefer to avoid shell syntax.
The codebase is written in Python and translated to C++ with custom tools. The project states that the deployed executable does not depend on Python. The repository is for development. The README says people who want to use Oils should not clone it and should instead visit oils.pub/release/latest. A development build from the repository is a Python program, not a released binary.
Key features
- OSH runs existing shell scripts
- YSH language intended for Python and JavaScript users
- Development build runnable interactively with bin/osh and bin/ysh
- Codebase written in Python and translated to C++
- Deployed executable does not depend on Python
- Continuous build tests run at every commit
Best for: Shell users who want to move from Bash to a different language, and Python or JavaScript developers who want to avoid shell, including people contributing to the project.
Good for
- OSH is intended to run existing shell scripts
- The deployed executable does not depend on Python, according to the project
- The codebase is a medium-sized Python program with many tests, which makes changes easier to make
Watch out for
- The repository is not the release. The README directs users to a separate download location.
- The development build is a Python program, not a released binary
Oils at a glance
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Linux & Mac Apps
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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Oils FAQ
Should I clone this repository to use Oils?
No. The README says that if you want to use Oils, you should not clone this repository and should visit oils.pub/release/latest instead.
Can I run my existing shell scripts with Oils?
OSH is described as the part that runs existing shell scripts. The development build can run a script with bin/osh myscript.sh.
Do I need to write code to contribute?
No. The README says contributors can merge failing spec tests without writing code, and that small contributions are accepted.
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