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Alternative shells or higher languages don't solve _all_ the issues.

I won't install a new shell to generate a file list on my CI server. I won't install a new shell on remote machines. Ever.

These structured shells also require commands to be aware of them, either via some plugin that structures their raw I/O output or some convention. They solve _some_ command output structuring but not _all_ the general problem.

So, the answer is good. It promotes the idea that one should be careful when machine parsing output meant for humans.



> I won't install a new shell to generate a file list on my CI server. I won't install a new shell on remote machines. Ever.

Uh... that's on you? Why do you intentionally hinder yourself?

> These structured shells also require commands to be aware of them, either via some plugin that structures their raw I/O output or some convention. They solve _some_ command output structuring but not _all_ the general problem.

Okay. It doesn't solve literally every single problem, that is true. It's still miles ahead. And when interfacing with non-pwsh commands, you just fall back to text parsing/output.


> Uh... that's on you? Why do you intentionally hinder yourself?

Hinder myself? An ephemeral cloud machine would not keep my custom shell anyway. By having to install it _every single time I connect_ I just loose precious time.

I want to be familiar with tools that are _already_ installed everywhere.

The shell is supposed to be a bottom feeder, lowest common denominator, barely usable tool. That way, it can build soon and get stable real fast. That (unintentional) strategy placed it as a core infrastructural piece... everywhere.

Of course, there's scripting and using it on the terminal. But we're talking about scripting, right? Parsing ls and stuff. I want the fast, lean, simple `dash` to parse my fast, lean simple scripts. pwsh is fine for the terminal leather seats.


Ephemeral cloud machines are created from images. Build your own image with the tools you need.




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