RazzShell

RazzShell is an open-source, customized Unix shell developed by Raj Acharya. The shell is designed to offer a more intuitive, colorful, and visually engaging alternative to traditional Unix-like command-line interfaces such as Bash, Zsh, and Fish. It simplifies command-line interactions by renaming common Unix commands to more user-friendly names and incorporating color-coded outputs for easier readability. RazzShell aims to improve the user experience by providing an enhanced, beginner-friendly CLI (command-line interface) while retaining the full functionality expected by experienced users.

Features

RazzShell introduces several unique features aimed at improving the usability of traditional Unix shells, including:

**Simplified Commands**: Common Unix commands are renamed for easier comprehension. For example, `cd` becomes `change`, and `ls` becomes `list`.
**Colorful Output**: Directory listings and error messages are color-coded, allowing users to quickly identify different types of files and system statuses.
**Session Saving and Bookmarking**: Users can save their shell sessions and bookmark frequently used commands to increase workflow efficiency.
**Built-in Commands**: RazzShell offers a range of built-in commands, such as `makedir` for creating directories and `cpuusage` for monitoring CPU usage.
**External Program Support**: While RazzShell introduces its own set of commands, it can also execute traditional Unix commands and external programs, ensuring compatibility with existing tools and utilities.
**Root Privilege Elevation**: Users can switch to a root shell (`sudo su`) without losing the customized environment of RazzShell, making system administration tasks easier.

History

RazzShell was created by Raj Acharya, a developer with a passion for Linux, open-source software, and enhancing user experiences. The shell was initially developed to address the learning curve that often accompanies traditional Unix shells. Acharya wanted to make Unix command-line tools more approachable, especially for new users who might find the default shells intimidating or visually unappealing.

RazzShell was first released on October 28, 2024. The project is actively being improved based on feedback from early users, with plans for further enhancements and more built-in commands in future releases.

Installation

RazzShell is available for any Unix-like operating system that supports the GCC compiler and the Readline library. It can be installed on popular distributions such as Ubuntu, Arch Linux, and macOS.

To install RazzShell on Arch Linux:

yay -S razzshell

yaml

For other Unix-like systems, you can follow the steps below:

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/rajacharya987/razzshell.git

2. Navigate to the project directory:

cd razzshell

3. Compile the source code:

gcc -o razzshell razzshell.c -lreadline

4. Install RazzShell:

sudo cp razzshell /usr/local/bin/ sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/razzshell

Once installed, you can start RazzShell by typing `razzshell` in your terminal.

Platforms

RazzShell is available on multiple platforms and can be downloaded from the following repositories:

**GitHub**: [1](https://github.com/rajacharya987/razzshell)
**SourceForge**: [2](https://sourceforge.net/projects/razzshell)
**Launchpad**: [3](https://launchpad.net/razzshell)
**Codeberg**: [4](https://codeberg.org/rajacharya0/razzshell)
**Bitbucket**: [5](https://bitbucket.org/rajacharya00/razzshell)
**Arch Linux AUR**: [6](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/razzshell)

Reception

As of its first release, RazzShell has garnered positive feedback from early users who appreciate the simplicity and visual appeal it brings to the Unix shell environment. Its ease of use and colorful output make it particularly suitable for those new to Unix-like systems, while seasoned developers find value in the enhanced productivity features like session saving and bookmarking.

The project has been discussed on various online platforms, including:

**Reddit**: [Introducing RazzShell on Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/user/Educational-Jelly646/comments/1gfcxur/razzshell_a_new_opensource_unix_shell_focused_on/)
**Medium**: [Introducing RazzShell on Medium](https://medium.com/@tejeswar_79802/introducing-razzshell-a-customizable-unix-shell-for-modern-cli-users-f5bf3e4b5743)
**Dev.to**: [Introducing RazzShell on Dev.to](https://dev.to/raj_acharya_00/introducing-razzshell-a-customizable-unix-shell-for-modern-cli-users-4nnd)
**Hacker News**: [RazzShell Discussion on Hacker News](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41972606)