Difference Between Csh and Bash (With Table)

Computer geeks prioritize an operating system Linux. Linux turned out handy to professionals in the 1990s. It is an open-source operating system. 

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The screen we use to operate an OS is called shells. CSH and BASH are shells. Shells are a medium of conversation among programmers and the device. We deliver commands and receive output.

Csh vs BASH

The main difference between Csh and Bash is that for changing the directory, we can use ‘chdir’ in csh while there is no such thing in bash.

Csh lets us govern a wide variety of aspects, for example,

a. Spelling correction

b. History

c.Signal

d.Niceness control

e.Job control

Signal handling and others.

There is some difficulty while reading lines of any files on csh, poor ‘read’ builtin.

Csh has poor redirection as compared to bash.

‘.’ is unavailable in ‘csh’ but we can source another script using ‘source’ builtin.

Csh resembles C programming. Users familiar with performing C programming find it homely. This was introduced in the 1970s by Bill Joy. It was established as a part of Berkeley Software Distribution in 1978. The C-shell got its name after its syntax, the C programming. It was developed with the motive to have an easier interactive approach. Command history is one of its glorious aspects. One of its many features includes jobs control facilities. It is accessed as a script shell command runner and an interactive shell login. It becomes tough to use on some occasions.

Bash, like Csh, is a shell program. Though it has a subtle variation than Csh. It is the modified version of ‘sh’, the bourne shell. The Bourne shell is believed to be the fundamental shell. Bash is Bourne Again Shell. Bash was composed by Brian Fox. He collected some of the goof features of other shells and armed bash into a unique shell program. It is widely accepted in the computer geek world. It is the default in Linux. It came into action in 1989. When you step into the bash terminal a prompt welcomes you. The prompt is $. You must be aware of what you want to command. Without the knowledge of command, it can be a pain in the ass.

Comparison Table Between Csh vs Bash

Parameters of comparison

Csh

Bash

Definition

C shell

Bourne Again Shell

Characteristics

Interactive

Non- interactive

Developer

Bill Joy

Brian Fox

Difficulty

Intermediate

Beginner

Year

The 1970s

Re-invented in 1989

What is Csh?

Csh is also known as C- shell, a command language translator. It is built with features that make it unique and spread out. Users find it interactive.

It stands out as it cites other programs. A user-biased program that interprets external commands. 

The skeleton of the command initiates with the ‘%’ prompt and concludes with ^D followed by the ‘%’ prompt. ^D signifies that the command has come to an end. 

Few instances:

 ^H represents the backspace key.

^U represents kill character.

^? Signifies erase key or delete.

echo “peace”, we will get ‘peace’ as our output.

There are few default commands like if you type the date in the terminal you will get the information as output. cal for calendar, you will receive the information as output.

pwd stands for print working directory. Command this, you will receive the information about the current directory you are working in. 

‘ls’ gives insight into the files, emails, folders that you are currently working with (list storage is ‘ls’). It provides you the information stored in your home directory.

The Korn shell (written as ksh)

Bourne Again shell ( known as BASH)

C shell ( referred to as csh)

Tcsh (TENEX or Tops C shell). It is the extended version of the C shell.

Here we are comparing the bash and the csh. Bash has features that are incorporated from the Korn shell and the C shell. The developer of Bash equipped it with the best features one can ask for in a shell. He was successful in his attempt. Bash is one of the most widely used shells. It has ranked itself at the top with easy accessibility.

The C Shell is a probable reflection of the C programming language. C users find it familiar. Csh and Bash have mild differences. Csh is anticipated to be on the harder scale as compared to Bash.

References

  1. https://fossies.org/linux/bash/doc/bashref.pdf
  2. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/b6b0/4381634a883131e1b55ca645d499c9538d65.pdf

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