When we talk about Korn shell vs bash, we must understand their technical meanings, how scripting differs, and some real-world uses. This guide aims to create a complete guide that addresses common questions and enhances your understanding of these fundamental concepts in Linux.
What is Korn Shell?
Korn shell is a command used in the Unix operating system, created by David Korn at Bell Labs. It is a shell program that allows users to run various scripts by connecting with the operating system. Korn shell, also called KornShell, was developed in 1983 and features its own scripting language. Korn Shell vs Bash allows developers to generate and create new shell commands whenever it is required
It combines elements from C Shell and Bourne Shell. C Shell was created by Bill Joy at the University of California, while Stephen Bourne developed Bourne Shell at Bell Labs. Korn Shell, made by David Korn, is considered superior to both C Shell and Bourne Shell. Korn shell comes in different flavors like pdksh, mksh, ksh93, and others. It also has a print command that’s more effective for displaying messages in the terminal compared to the echo command in Bash Shell.
Features of Korn Shell
Korn Shell offers a variety of features, including:
- Job Control: Users can manage and control running processes easily.
- Advanced I/O Redirection: Users can redirect output files and view them simultaneously.
- Command Line Editing: Previous commands can be easily edited.
- Arithmetic Evaluation: Built-in support for mathematical calculations.
- Variables: Korn shell supports parameter expansion and variables.
History of Korn Shell
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Korn shell received updates in 1986 and 1993, enhancing its performance with several new features, including:
- Improved input and output capabilities
- Support for arrays
- Enhanced command history
- Better support for shell functions and aliases
- Improved pattern matching and substring features
In 1993, Lucent and AT&T owned the Korn shell, but it later became open source when its code was released under the Eclipse Public License. Today, Korn shell is used in Unix and Linux systems, although many users now prefer Bash Shell.
What is Bash?
Today, Bash is one of the most popular command-line shells. It was developed by Brian Fox in 1987 as a more advanced version of the Bourne shell. Bash includes features from both the Korn Shell (ksh) and the C Shell (csh), making it a versatile option for scripting and executing commands. Its widespread use in various Linux distributions and macOS highlights its significance in the Unix/Linux ecosystem.
Bash, or Bourne Again Shell, is very similar to the Bourne shell (.sh) found in Unix. It was created by Free Software and is licensed under the GNU organization.
For many beginners, Bash feels the same as Linux or Unix; it’s just that black screen with green text where you enter commands for your computer. This confuses the Bash shell with the commands you use. It’s crucial to realize that they are not the same: Bash is an application, and its main role is to execute other applications (as commands) on the system.
Features of the Bash Shell Overview
- Command Line Editing: robust history, tab completion, Video editing, and command line editing.
- Programmable Completion: To make complex commands easier to navigate, users can create custom completion functions.
- Process Substitution: Handles the output of commands as a file.
- Brace Expansion: Uses a single command to generate several file names and command arguments.
- Shell Functions: Enables bespoke functions to be created and called.
Key Differences Between Korn Shell vs Bash
Let’s explore major Korn Shell vs Bash differences.
1. Speed
Korn Shell is optimized for speed, running scripts faster thanks to its built-in features. On the other hand, Bash tends to be a bit slower, especially with more complex tasks.
2. Syntax & Compatibility
When it comes to syntax and compatibility, Korn Shell offers advanced scripting capabilities like floating-point numbers and associative arrays. Bash matches this but adds better debugging tools and error handling.
3. User Experience
In terms of user experience, Korn Shell has basic command-line editing and history, but it lacks some modern conveniences. Bash, however, includes tab completion, more customization options, and a more user-friendly interface.
4. Availability
Regarding default availability, Korn Shell is commonly found on Unix systems but isn’t always pre-installed on Linux. Bash, meanwhile, is the go-to shell for most Linux distributions.
5. Use Cases
As for adoption and use cases, Korn Shell vs Bash is often favored in corporate Unix environments where performance and legacy support are key. Bash is the preferred option for many Linux users, DevOps professionals, and system admins due to its versatility and strong community support.
6. Scalability
Bash vs Korn Shell isn’t the best when it comes to scalability; it mainly handles simple command execution and basic scripting or automation. While it’s the go-to shell for most Linux distributions, one of its downsides is that it’s really only effective for small to medium tasks and struggles with larger, more resource-heavy jobs.
The Korn shell vs Bash is perfect for Linux users performing intricate jobs because it provides excellent scalability for data manipulation, mathematical computations, and sophisticated scripting.
7. Customization
Customizing a shell means making shortcuts and functions that enhance productivity. It also allows us to simplify tasks and tailor the environment to our preferences.
Bash uses the .bash_profile and .bashrc files for configuration. Users can adjust shell settings, set prompts, create environment variables, and more through these files:
$ PS1="CustomBashPrompt> "<br>CustomBashPrompt>In this example, we see how to customize the prompt. The PS1 variable defines the main prompt for Bash, and its value sets what the prompt looks like.
The Korn shell vs Bash offers similar customization features:
prompt customization<br>shell behaviorHere’s how to change the prompt in Korn:
$ PS1="CustomKornPrompt"<br>CustomKornPrompt>Bash vs Korn shells have a similar structure for prompt customization.
However, Bash is more widely used, which means its customizations tend to work better across various systems and distributions. This gives Bash an edge over Korn in terms of customization options.
8. Open Source Licensing
License terms greatly influence how software can be accessed and used.
Bash vs Korn Shell is fully open source and is free under the GNU General Public License. This openness has contributed to its popularity.
The Korn shell comes in different versions, each with its own licensing rules. The ksh88 version is free, while ksh93 has a more restrictive license.
In summary, Bash is fully open-source and free under the GNU General Public License, whereas the ksh93 version of the Korn shell has more limitations.
9. Performance
Performance is an important aspect to evaluate when looking at the abilities of different shells.
The Bash shell is recognized for its reliable and steady performance. It manages everyday tasks well and is widely used for scripting.
time for i in {1..100000}; do<br> echo "baeldung $i"<br>done<br>[...]<br><br>real 0m0.761s<br>user 0m0.435s<br>sys 0m0.324s<br>We have a basic for loop in Bash that creates the text “baeldung” followed by the value of i, running from 1 to 100000. The loop also uses the time command to measure how long it takes to run. The real time is the total time taken, user time is how long the CPU spends on user-mode tasks, and sys time is for system-mode tasks. In this case, the Bash shell took about 0.761 seconds to finish the job.
This example reveals Bash’s ability to manage loops, which are essential for larger and longer tasks. Although it may be slower than Korn shell in some aspects, it still performs well in many scenarios.
The Korn shell vs Bash beats Bash in handling complex scripts and demanding tasks such as data manipulation, advanced math, and process replacement. With a quicker execution time of 0.37 seconds compared to Bash’s 0.761 seconds, it is better suited for power users and system efficiency.
time for ((i=1; i<=1000; i++)); do<br>print "baeldung $i"<br>done<br>[…]
real 0m00.37s<br>user 0m00.17s<br>sys 0m00.19s| Korn Shell | Bash |
| The KSH shell uses the .ksh extension for scripts. | The Bash shell uses the .sh extension for scripts |
| The Korn shell is located at /bin/ksh in the directory. | The Bash shell is found at /bin/sh in the directory |
| The binary size of the Korn Interpreter is about 1.6 MB. | The Bash interpreter has a binary size of 1.1 MB |
| prints messages in the terminal, The Korn shell uses the print command | Uses the echo command |
| Better at handling loops than the Bash shell. | prints messages in the terminal, the Korn shell uses the print command |
| Developed by David Korn | Newer, created by the Free Software Foundation |
| A smaller user base, less active | Large number of users, a vibrant community. |
Conclusion
When deciding between Korn shell vs Bash, it depends on your scripting needs, environment, and use cases, and they’re ideal for different scenarios. This article provides a clear and simple explanation of Korn vs Bash Shell differences, advantages, and comparison table.
Bash vs Korn Shell is great for regular tasks and simple scripts. But if you’re dealing with heavy-duty, performance-sensitive jobs, the Korn shell offers better scalability and efficiency.
FAQ’s
1. Is Korn Shell quicker than Bash?
Definitely, Korn Shell usually executes scripts faster because of its optimized built-in commands.
2. Which shell is more popular in Linux?
Bash is the go-to shell for most Linux distros, so it’s definitely more commonly used.
3. Can I execute Korn Shell scripts in Bash?
Some Korn Shell scripts might run in Bash, but syntax differences could lead to problems.
4. How can I make Korn Shell my default shell permanently?
You can set Korn Shell as your default by running chsh -s /bin/ksh.
5. Which shell is superior for scripting: Korn Shell vs Bash?
Korn Shell is better for performance and legacy support, while Bash is the top choice for modern scripting and Linux compatibility.
