pi-mono/packages/coding-agent/docs/shell-aliases.md
Christian Klotz 25cc5c7bf4
docs(coding-agent): refresh documentation (#9898)
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* Fix settings reference

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Clarify provider, session, local-model, Termux, TUI, SDK, debug, and extension behavior. Simplify the documentation audit to report only clear user-visible contradictions.

* docs(coding-agent): fix broken documentation links
2026-09-22 16:48:19 +02:00

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# Configure shell commands
Pi starts a separate non-interactive shell process for each Bash command. Non-interactive Bash does not expand aliases by default and usually does not load the same startup files as an interactive terminal.
Use `shellPath` to choose the Bash executable and `shellCommandPrefix` to run setup before each command.
## Understand which shell Pi uses
| Command source | Shell |
|---|---|
| Model calls the built-in `bash` tool | Pi's resolved Bash executable |
| You enter `!command` or `!!command` | The same resolved Bash executable |
| Model calls the optional `powershell` tool | PowerShell 7 (`pwsh.exe`) or Windows PowerShell |
| An extension provides or replaces a shell tool | The operations implemented by that extension |
Pi normally invokes Bash with `bash -c`. On Unix systems, it uses `/bin/bash`, then `bash` on `PATH`, and finally `sh` when Bash is unavailable. Native Windows first checks the configured path, then Git Bash, then `bash.exe` on `PATH`.
## Choose a Bash executable
Set `shellPath` in `~/.pi/agent/settings.json` when Pi should use a specific executable:
```json
{
"shellPath": "~/.local/bin/bash"
}
```
On Windows, use forward slashes or escape backslashes:
```json
{
"shellPath": "C:\\cygwin64\\bin\\bash.exe"
}
```
Run `/reload` after changing the setting. See [Run Pi on Windows](windows.md) for the native Windows defaults.
## Run setup before every Bash command
Set `shellCommandPrefix` to prepend shell setup to both the built-in `bash` tool and user-entered `!` or `!!` commands:
```json
{
"shellCommandPrefix": "export CI=1"
}
```
Pi joins the prefix and requested command with a newline. The prefix runs again for every command, so keep it fast and free of interactive prompts.
## Enable Bash aliases
Store aliases needed by Pi in a Bash-compatible file instead of parsing an entire interactive shell configuration.
Create `~/.bash_aliases`:
```bash
alias ll='ls -la'
alias gs='git status --short'
```
Then configure Pi to enable alias expansion and load the file:
```json
{
"shellCommandPrefix": "shopt -s expand_aliases\nsource ~/.bash_aliases"
}
```
Run `/reload`, then verify the alias through Pi:
```text
!ll
```
The command should produce the same listing as `ls -la`.
Aliases must use Bash-compatible syntax. Do not source an arbitrary `.zshrc` into Bash because zsh options, functions, and plugins may not parse or behave correctly there.
## Troubleshooting
### The prefix works for `!` but not for an extension tool
`shellCommandPrefix` configures Pi's built-in Bash execution. An extension that replaces the `bash` tool or provides its own shell operations controls its own setup. Check that extension's documentation.
### `shopt` is not found
Pi has fallen back to `sh` or `shellPath` points to a non-Bash shell. Install Bash or set `shellPath` to a Bash executable before using Bash-specific setup such as `shopt`.
### A setup command waits for input
Remove interactive commands from `shellCommandPrefix`. The prefix runs in a non-interactive process before every Bash command.
For the complete setting definitions, see [Shell settings](settings.md#shell).