# Install nsh with Homebrew, apk, MacPorts, Nix Fish-like, POSIX-compatible shell. Version 0.4.2 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:nsh ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install nsh ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install nsh ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: shells/nsh/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add nsh ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: nsh from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#nsh ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ns/nsh/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:nsh - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.4.2 - **Source summary:** Fish-like, POSIX-compatible shell - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** CC0-1.0 OR MIT - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - nsh (cli) - nsh (alias) ## Build dependencies - rust ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 0.4.2 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/nuta/nsh - Upstream latest detected: v0.4.2 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## Project history and usage nsh is a Rust command-line shell that aims to combine fish-like interactive convenience with POSIX-compatible shell syntax and some Bash extensions. Its README lists tab completion, syntax highlighting, Bash completion support by invoking Bash internally, and zero-configuration interactive features. ### Project history The GitHub repository was created on October 5, 2018, and the crates.io package was created on December 19, 2018. A Rust users forum announcement from December 17, 2018 framed the motivation as wanting fish-like out-of-the-box features while keeping traditional shell syntax and Bash scripting features. ### Adoption history nsh is an experimental/alpha shell rather than a mainstream login shell. The README explicitly asks for help to make it practical for daily use and notes missing Bash features and likely bugs. Still, it drew developer interest: the GitHub repository had about 963 stars when queried on 2026-07-01, crates.io reported 33,186 total downloads and 20 versions, and Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, and Alpine package it. ### How it is used Package users try it as an interactive shell with `nsh`, often via `cargo install nsh` or `brew install nsh`, to get completions and highlighting without adopting fish's non-POSIX language. The realistic usage is experimentation or personal shell sessions, not relying on it as `/bin/sh` for production scripts. ### Why package nerds care nsh sits in the recurring shell-design niche: keep Bourne/POSIX familiarity, borrow fish's interactive ergonomics, and implement it in Rust. For package catalogs it is best described as an interesting alternative shell with modest packaging footprint and alpha-stage caveats. ### Timeline - 2018-10-05: GitHub repository created. - 2018-12-17: author announced nsh on users.rust-lang.org. - 2018-12-19: crates.io package created. - 2021-07-21: crates.io metadata updated to version 0.4.2. - 2023-02-11: GitHub repository pushed timestamp observed by API query. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes generalized runtime or code generation signal. - **Geiger risk:** yellow / medium - generalized runtime or code generation signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** nsh - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - nsh: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ns/nsh/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - apk - nsh - 0.4.2-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: nsh from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A command-line shell like fish, but POSIX compatible | https://github.com/nuta/nsh - apk - nsh-dbg - 0.4.2-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: nsh-dbg from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A command-line shell like fish, but POSIX compatible (debug symbols) | https://github.com/nuta/nsh - MacPorts - nsh: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: shells/nsh/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Language runtime packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/language-runtime-packages/) - Matched language runtime, compiler, or interpreter metadata. - [rust](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rust/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [nushell](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nushell/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, rust, shell, system, terminal. - [bashish](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bashish/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, shell, system, terminal. - [brush](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/brush/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, rust, shell, system. - [dash-shell](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dash-shell/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, posix, shell, system. - [murex](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/murex/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, shell, system, terminal. - [posh](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/posh/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, posix, shell, system. - [thefuck](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/thefuck/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, shell, system, terminal. - [bash](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bash/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, shell, system. - [clifm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/clifm/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, shell, system, terminal. - [hr](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hr/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, shell, system, terminal. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/nsh.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/nsh.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph