# Xonsh shell

15 Hacker News commenters recommended Xonsh shell and 2 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 10 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Python-based shell people pick to avoid learning a new language, now more stable. Critics find interactive editing awkward and some features missing.

## Why people recommend it

- Uses Python, no new language (3 comments): "is a very pleasant experience, especially when you just don't feel like learning another bespoke language" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48991240)) "the shell language isn't some new thing you have to learn" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48269594)) "If you know Python, just switch to xonsh" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45982932))
- Better than bash for scripts (2 comments): "It is already the language I lean on over bash for most utility scripts with its kitchen sink built-ins." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50052708)) "Really great in particular for people like me who are bash-challenged" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46530904))
- Getting more stable over time (2 comments): "It promises to be the most stable in the project’s history and docs improvements are nice." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47845560)) "The shell has become much more stable." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46223809))
- Happy long-term users (2 comments): "a bunch of happy xonsh users disagree" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49059004)) "xonsh user for 8 years here" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47139938))

## What people warn about

- Missing pipelines and other features (2 comments): "xonsh is a neat experiment but ultimately is missing pipeline programming that nushell gives" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46563104)) "awkward & klunky interactive editing, special prefix syntax, some missing features" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49059088))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Bash](https://hackerapproved.com/p/bash.md): 171 recommend
- [PowerShell](https://hackerapproved.com/p/powershell.md): 156 recommend
- [fish shell](https://hackerapproved.com/p/fish-shell.md): 97 recommend
- [Nushell](https://hackerapproved.com/p/nushell.md): 92 recommend
- [zsh](https://hackerapproved.com/p/zsh.md): 52 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Xonsh shell", https://hackerapproved.com/p/xonsh/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).