The Power of POSIX.
Built with Java.

A modern, cross-platform mini-shell written entirely in Java. Fully POSIX-compliant with native pipelines, built-in commands, and I/O redirection for Windows, Linux, and macOS.

View on GitHubInstallation Guide
java-shell ~ /home/user

Everything you need in a shell

Java-Shell handles standard shell operations natively, delivering a consistent experience across all operating systems.

Built-in Commands

Native Java implementations of essential commands like exit, echo, type, pwd, and cd without OS dependency.

Powerful Pipelines

Full support for chaining command inputs and outputs using the | operator, just like a real POSIX shell.

I/O Redirection

Easily redirect standard output and standard error to files with >, >>, and 2> operations.

Cross-Platform

100% executable on Windows, Linux, and macOS without modifying code. Handles NUL vs /dev/null seamlessly.

Installation Guide

Choose your preferred way to get the Java Mini Shell up and running on your machine.

Standard Installation

  1. 1Ensure you have bash and maven installed.
  2. 2
    Make the install script executable:
    chmod +x install.sh
  3. 3
    Run the installer:
    ./install.sh

    This copies the jar to ~/.local/lib/mini-shell/ and adds a wrapper script to ~/.local/bin/.

  4. 4Ensure ~/.local/bin is in your PATH.

Run your new shell from anywhere:

mini-shell

Prerequisites

Java 21 or higher & Maven installed

Architecture

POSIX-compliant Java implementation

Source Code

Open source on GitHub