How to setup csh/tcsh on Fedora Linux?

Csh or (C shell) is a Unix shell developed by Bill Joy and its syntax is based on the c programming language.

tcsh ( TENEX C Shell) is a Unix shell that is the improved version of the C Shell. It derives features like command line completion and command line editing from the TENEX operating system. tcsh is backward compatible with c shell.

It is the default shell in BSD-based systems like FreeBSD. In Fedora csh and tcsh refers to the same package in the package repository.

You can view how to install and use the c shell in Ubuntu.

Today in this article I will discuss how to set up tcsh on Fedora Linux.

Features of tcsh

The key features of tcsh are given below –

• Command-line editing
• Auto-completion of file names and variables
• It has a builtin history command which shows the previously entered commands
• It has a builtin where command which works like which command
• tcsh has a wild card matching feature
• The syntax is similar to the C programming language

How to install tcsh in Fedora

Many users who are comfortable with C programming can use it as an alternative to bash (bourne again shell). The tcsh package is available in the default Fedora repository you can directly install it by using the dnf command.

First, use the following command to update the package repository –

sudo dnf update

Next, run the given command to install tcsh on Fedora –

sudo dnf install tcsh

Press y and then enter if it asks for your confirmation.

Using tcsh in Fedora

Once the package installation is completed you can start using tcsh by executing the given command in your terminal –

csh

OR

tcsh

Make tcsh as your default shell

To make tcsh your default shell on Fedora first, you need to find the location where the tcsh package is installed.

Use the following command to find the path of tcsh –

whereis tcsh

Now /usr/bin/tcsh is the location of tcsh that we are looking for.

To make it your default shell use the following command in your terminal.

sudo chsh -s /usr/bin/tcsh

OR you can make it the default shell for a specific user by using the following command –

sudo chsh -s /usr/bin/tcsh user_name

Now replace the user_name with the actual user in your system.

To make bash again your default shell, use the following command in your terminal-

sudo chsh -s /bin/bash

Conclusion

tcsh is a good alternative to bash I hope you have successfully set up it on your Fedora system.

Now if you have a query or feedback then write us in the comments below.