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Command Interpreters

A command interpreter is a program that executes other programs.

Aim: allow users to execute the commands provided on a computer system.

Command interpreters come in two flavours:

  • graphical   (e.g. Windows or Mac desktop)
    • advantage: easy for naive users to start using system
  • command-line   (e.g. Unix shell)
    • advantage: programmable, powerful tool for expert users
On Unix/Linux, bash has become defacto standard shell.