Shell lets you perform tasks on the operating system in your workspace such as managing files, installing packages, and running scripts. It provides a powerful text-based interface to interact with your Replit environment.

You can use Shell to run the following tasks in your workspace:

  • Execute scripts and programs
  • Install and run popular Linux tools and packages
  • Upload and download files from the internet
  • Manage workspace files and directories

For better workflow management, prefer the Run button instead of running your app from the Shell. The workflow started by the Run button sends output to the Console tool, which provides a structured way to review the logs.

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Features

Shell provides the following capabilities:

  • Run multiple shells: Open multiple shell instances to work on different tasks simultaneously
  • Search for text: Find specific text in the shell output
  • Generate commands using AI: Use Assistant to help create commands from natural language descriptions

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Usage

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Text search

The following steps describe how to access and use the text search tool:

  1. Select the magnifying glass icon magnifying glass at the top right of the Shell tab to open the search dialog.
  2. Enter a search term and select Next to navigate through the matches.
  3. Use Previous to go back to prior matches.
  4. Select Exit or click outside the dialog to exit the text search.

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AI suggestions

To get assistance composing your command from Assistant, follow the steps below:

  1. Right-click anywhere in the Shell and select Generate command from the contextual menu.
  2. Describe the task you want to accomplish in plain language and press Enter to submit your request.
  3. Assistant generates a command and shows a preview in gray text.
  4. Select Accept to run it or Reject to cancel.

For example, if you enter “list all files in the current directory,” Assistant might suggest the ls command.

To request help with resolving an issue reported in the output, follow the steps below:

  1. Select the relevant text and right-click on the selection.
  2. Select Ask Assistant in the contextual menu.
  3. The Assistant tab automatically opens and submits the selected text to Assistant for analysis.

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Multiple shells

To create a new shell, select the menu at the top left of the Shell tab arrow and select New Shell as shown below:

Use the same menu to switch between shells. The workspace labels each shell with the last command executed to help you identify them.

When you open more than one shell, Replit automatically closes idle shell instances. An idle shell is unselected and not running any user processes.

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Next steps

To learn more about related Workspace tools see the following resources:

  • Console: Learn how to use Console to monitor your Replit App workflows.
  • Assistant: Learn about Assistant for code help and error resolution