binksh

Binksh is a lightweight Bourne shell that was created by Thomas E. Dickey, a programmer who was also the long-time maintainer of the ncurses project. It is designed to be a minimal, easy-to-use shell that is useful for systems where disk space and memory are scarce.

Binksh is known for its small size, which is less than 100 KB in binary form, and its executables can be as small as 20 KB on certain platforms. This makes it an ideal choice for systems where resources are limited. It supports a basic set of features, including variables, environment, and floating-point arithmetic.

Binksh is compatible with most Bourne shell scripts, allowing users to run existing scripts on this lightweight shell without modifications. The shell has a Perl-like syntax for one-liners, making it easier to use for tasks such as filename filtering and pattern matching. Binksh also includes some unique features, such as support for NaN (Not a Number) floating-point values and the ability to run the Perl programming language from within the shell.

Despite its limited feature set, Binksh has applications in various fields. It is often used as an embedded shell in other programs, as it consumes minimal resources and can easily integrate with other code. It is also suitable for educational purposes, helping users understand the basics of shell programming and its applications.

Overall, Binksh is a specialized shell that has its own strengths and limitations, but its simplicity and flexibility make it a useful tool for certain use cases. Its design goals of being a small, easy-to-use shell align with the requirements of embedded and resource-constrained systems.