# KornShell

> type of Unix shell

**Wikidata**: [Q204222](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q204222)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KornShell)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kornshell

## Summary
KornShell is a type of Unix shell developed by David Korn in 1983. It functions as both a scripting language for run-time events and a command-line interface language. It is designed to run on Unix-like operating systems such as BSD.

## Key Facts
*   KornShell was developed by American computer programmer David Korn, born in 1943.
*   Its inception date is 1983.
*   It is classified as a Unix shell, a scripting language, and a command-line interface language.
*   KornShell is licensed under the Eclipse Public License 1.0.
*   Common aliases for KornShell include ksh, ksh93, and ast-ksh.
*   It runs on operating systems including BSD.
*   The source code for ksh93 is available on GitHub.

## FAQs
### Q: What is KornShell?
A: KornShell is a type of Unix shell that also functions as a scripting language and a command-line interface language. It was developed by David Korn and first appeared in 1983.

### Q: Who developed KornShell?
A: KornShell was developed by David Korn, an American computer programmer born in 1943. He is also known as a computer scientist.

### Q: When was KornShell created?
A: KornShell was created in 1983. This marks its inception as a Unix shell and scripting language.

### Q: What operating systems does KornShell run on?
A: KornShell runs on various Unix-like operating systems, including BSD. It is also available through package managers for systems like Ubuntu, Debian, Arch Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and Gentoo.

### Q: What is KornShell used for?
A: KornShell is used as a Unix shell, providing a command-line interface for interacting with the operating system. It also serves as a scripting language for automating tasks and handling run-time events.

## Why It Matters
KornShell holds significance as a foundational and enduring component within the Unix ecosystem. Developed by David Korn in 1983, it emerged as a powerful alternative to existing shells, offering advanced features that enhanced productivity for system administrators and developers. Its dual nature as both a robust command-line interface and a capable scripting language makes it a versatile tool for automating complex tasks, managing system processes, and developing sophisticated scripts. The shell's influence is evident in its continued availability across a wide array of Unix-like operating systems, including various BSD distributions and popular Linux distributions via package managers. Its open-source licensing under the Eclipse Public License 1.0 ensures its accessibility and continued development, cementing its role as a reliable and efficient environment for interacting with and programming Unix systems.

## Notable For
*   Its development by David Korn, a notable American computer programmer.
*   Its inception in 1983, establishing it as an early and influential Unix shell.
*   Functioning simultaneously as a Unix shell, a scripting language, and a command-line interface language.
*   Being licensed under the Eclipse Public License 1.0, making its source code openly available.
*   Its broad availability across numerous Unix-like operating systems and package managers (e.g., Ubuntu, Debian, Arch Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Gentoo).

## Body

### Overview
KornShell is a type of Unix shell. It is also classified as a scripting language and a command-line interface language. Its primary aliases include ksh, ksh93, and ast-ksh.

### Development
KornShell was developed by David Korn, an American computer programmer and computer scientist born in 1943. Its inception date is 1983.

### Technical Details
*   **License**: Eclipse Public License 1.0
*   **Use**: Unix shell
*   **Programming Language**: Q15777 (as per structured properties)
*   **Operating Systems**: Runs on BSD and other Unix-like operating systems.

### Availability
KornShell is widely available across various platforms:
*   **Website**: http://kornshell.com (in English)
*   **Source Code**: Available at https://github.com/att/ast/tree/master/src/cmd/ksh93 (Note: ksh93 source is available on github, last referenced 2024-08-03).
*   **Package Managers**:
    *   **Ubuntu**: ksh
    *   **Debian**: ksh (source package: ksh, stable package: ksh)
    *   **Arch Linux**: ksh
    *   **FreeBSD**: shells/ksh93, shells/ksh93-devel
    *   **OpenBSD**: shells/ksh93
    *   **Gentoo**: app-shells/ksh
    *   **NetBSD**: shells/ast-ksh, wip/ast-ksh
    *   **Homebrew**: ksh (formula name)
*   **Man Page**: ksh.1

### Classification
KornShell is an instance of:
*   Unix shell
*   Scripting language (programming language for run-time events)
*   Command line interface language (programming language)

### Identifiers
*   **Wikipedia Title**: KornShell (available in az, ca, cs, de, el, en, es, fi, fr, hi languages)
*   **Wikidata Description**: type of Unix shell
*   **Freebase ID**: /m/04d61 (referenced 2013-10-28)
*   **Quora Topic**: Korn-Shell-1
*   **Stack Exchange Tag**: https://stackoverflow.com/tags/ksh
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID**: sh89000278 (referenced 2019-04-03)
*   **National Library of Israel J9U ID**: 987007534586505171
*   **Yale LUX ID**: concept/07f2663d-e4f6-4082-af4c-7b9785b3ae3d
*   **Free Software Directory Entry**: ksh
*   **Copyright Status**: copyrighted

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](http://kornshell.com/)
4. Quora
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File