rc shell review
A free, list-oriented shell for interactive commands and scripts on Plan 9.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
rc is a command-line shell and scripting language for Plan 9, suited to users who want a small interpreter for interactive work and scripts. Its syntax has Bourne-shell-like facilities, but values are represented as lists of arguments, giving rc a distinct approach to shell scripting. It can run commands interactively or from a file, and also accepts a command string. This makes it a focused option for Plan 9 users rather than a general-purpose choice across operating systems.
The feature set covers common command composition and control flow: pipelines, background execution, filename pattern matching, command substitution, and input/output redirection. Functions and built-in commands are supported, alongside for loops, conditionals, and switch statements. The list-oriented variable model is the defining distinction; it can suit scripts that work naturally with argument lists, but users accustomed to traditional Unix shell syntax should expect to adapt. rc is open source and free, with self-hosted deployment.
The fit is narrow by design. The official documentation is for Plan 9, and the vendor describes its downloads as historical, so rc is most appropriate for existing Plan 9 environments or users specifically exploring that system. The Plan 9 manual documents startup options, environment handling, functions, and command execution, while documentation is the listed support channel. Choose rc if Plan 9 compatibility and its list-oriented scripting model are priorities; choose another shell if you need a documented multi-platform option or a different support channel.
rc shell pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Supports interactive use and scripts from files or command strings
- Includes pipelines, background execution, redirection, and command substitution
- List-valued variables pair with functions, loops, and conditionals
- Where it doesn't
- Its documented platform is Plan 9
- List-valued variables and rc syntax differ from traditional Unix shells
- Documentation is the listed support channel
rc shell fact sheet, pricing and score →
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