etsh
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Description:
Two ports of /bin/sh from V6 UNIX (circa 1975)
Type: Formula  |  Latest Version: 5.4.0@0  |  Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: System utilities
Tags: shell unix history retrocomputing command-line
Install: brew install etsh
About:
etsh is a modern port of the original Thompson shell, the ancestor of all UNIX shells. It provides a historically accurate command-line interpreter from 1975, useful for retrocomputing, historical research, and understanding the origins of modern shell features.
Key Features:
  • Authentic recreation of the original V6 UNIX shell
  • Supports historical shell syntax and features
  • Builds on modern operating systems
  • Educational tool for UNIX history
Use Cases:
  • Exploring historical UNIX command-line interfaces
  • Running vintage UNIX software in its original environment
  • Studying the evolution of shell scripting languages
Alternatives:
  • bash – Modern GNU shell with extensive features vs etsh's minimal historical implementation
  • dash – Lightweight POSIX shell vs etsh's V6 UNIX-specific syntax and behavior
License: BSD-2-Clause AND BSD-3-Clause AND BSD-4-Clause AND LicenseRef-Homebrew-public-domain
Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_ventura, arm64_monterey, arm64_big_sur, sonoma, ventura, monterey, big_sur, catalina, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 13, 2025 3:22pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 7eda0633
Sep 13, 2024 3:15am 0 VERSION_BUMP f078cb23