Bash
The Bash tool allows the AI to execute shell commands directly on your machine. This gives it the ability to run scripts, manage files, install packages, query system state, and much more.
What It Does
Section titled “What It Does”- Executes arbitrary shell commands in your default shell (bash/zsh)
- Returns stdout and stderr output to the AI
- Commands run with your user permissions in the current working directory
When It’s Used
Section titled “When It’s Used”The AI uses Bash when:
- You ask it to run a script or command
- File operations are faster via shell than with Read/Glob
- You need system information (disk usage, running processes, etc.)
- You want to install packages, compile code, or manage Git repos
Example
Section titled “Example”“Check how much disk space my Downloads folder is using, and list the 5 largest files.”
The AI will run du -sh ~/Downloads and find ~/Downloads -type f | xargs ls -lS | head -5 (or similar), then format the output in a readable way.
Safety
Section titled “Safety”Bash commands run with your full user permissions. The AI is instructed to:
- Prefer non-destructive commands when possible
- Explain what a command will do before running it if it’s destructive
- Never run commands that could damage the system without explicit confirmation
You are always shown the exact command being run before and after execution.
- You can tell ChatShell to use a specific directory: “Run this in my project folder at
~/projects/myapp”