Skip to content
machbase-neo
JSH
Command Reference

Command Reference

This page covers the default JSH commands grouped by user-facing purpose.

Overview

This page groups commands by what they do for the user.

Notes

  • These commands operate inside the JSH virtual filesystem by default, not directly on the host OS filesystem.
  • Relative paths are resolved from the current JSH working directory.
  • Some commands affect the active shell session directly, such as the current directory or environment variables.
  • Some commands intentionally provide a smaller feature set than their Unix counterparts.

Filesystem Commands

cd

Changes the current working directory of the active JSH shell session.

Syntax
cd [directory]

If no argument is provided, cd moves to $HOME. If the target path does not exist, it prints an error and returns a non-zero status.

Usage example
/work > cd subdir
/work/subdir >
/work/subdir > cd
/work >

cat

Concatenates files to standard output. It supports line numbering, visible line endings and tabs, blank-line squeezing, and syntax highlighting.

Syntax
cat [OPTION]... [FILE]...
Options
  • -n, --number number all output lines
  • -E, --showEnds display $ at the end of each line
  • -T, --showTabs display tab characters as ^I
  • -s, --squeeze suppress repeated empty lines
  • -c, --color enable syntax highlighting
  • -h, --help show help

With -c, syntax highlighting is available for .js, .json, .ndjson, .sql, .csv, .yaml, .yml, and .toml.

Usage example
/work > cat -n notes.txt
/work > cat -c script.js
/work > cat -sE log.txt

ls

Lists directory contents. By default it prints entries in columns and supports hidden entries, long listing mode, time sorting, recursion, and simple wildcards.

Syntax
ls [OPTION]... [PATH]...
Options
  • -l, --long use a detailed listing view
  • -a, --all include hidden entries
  • -t, --time sort by modification time, newest first
  • -R, --recursive list subdirectories recursively

Path arguments may include simple wildcard patterns such as * and ?.

Usage example
/work > ls
/work > ls -la
/work > ls -t /lib
/work > ls -R src
/work > ls *.js

mkdir

Creates one or more directories.

Syntax
mkdir [OPTION]... DIRECTORY...
Options
  • -p, --parents create parent directories as needed
  • -v, --verbose print a message for each created directory
  • -h, --help show help

Without -p, creating an existing directory reports an error.

Usage example
/work > mkdir data
/work > mkdir -p logs/app/2026
/work > mkdir -pv build/output

pwd

Prints the current working directory.

Syntax
pwd
Usage example
/work > pwd
/work

rm

Removes files or directories.

Syntax
rm [OPTION]... FILE...
Options
  • -r, -R, --recursive remove directories and their contents recursively
  • -d, --dir, --directory remove empty directories
  • -f, --force ignore nonexistent paths and missing operand errors
  • -v, --verbose print a message for each removed path
  • -h, --help show help
Usage example
/work > rm old.txt
/work > rm -rf cache
/work > rm -d empty-dir
/work > rm -fv temp.txt missing.txt

Environment Commands

env

Prints environment variables. With no arguments it prints the full environment in sorted order. With one or more names, it prints only those variables.

Syntax
env [NAME]...
Usage example
/work > env
/work > env HOME PWD

setenv

Sets an environment variable in the current shell session.

Syntax
setenv NAME VALUE
setenv NAME=VALUE

Variable names must start with a letter or _, and may then contain letters, digits, or _.

Usage example
/work > setenv GREETING hello
/work > setenv MESSAGE='hello world'

unsetenv

Removes an environment variable from the current shell session.

Syntax
unsetenv NAME

Invalid names or missing arguments produce a usage error.

Usage example
/work > unsetenv GREETING

System Commands

pkg

Manages JSH packages and project manifests. For subcommands, options, and workflows, refer to Package Manager.

Syntax
pkg <command> [options] [args...]

servicectl

Manages long-running JSH services through the service controller. For subcommands, options, and service-management workflows, refer to Service Manager.

Syntax
servicectl [--controller=<addr>] <command> [args...]

Text And Utility Commands

echo

Prints its arguments separated by spaces and terminates with a newline.

Syntax
echo [ARG]...

The current implementation does not support shell-style flags such as -n or escape-sequence interpretation.

Usage example
/work > echo hello world
hello world

sleep

Waits for the specified number of seconds before returning.

Syntax
sleep [OPTION] <sec>
Options
  • -h, --help show help
Usage example
/work > sleep 5

wc

Counts lines, words, bytes, and characters for each file. If no file is given, or if - is used, it reads standard input.

Syntax
wc [OPTION]... [FILE]...
Options
  • -l, --lines print line counts
  • -w, --words print word counts
  • -c, --bytes print byte counts
  • -m, --chars print character counts
  • -h, --help show help

If no count option is selected, wc prints lines, words, and bytes.

Usage example
/work > wc notes.txt
/work > wc -l *.log
/work > cat notes.txt | wc -w -

which

Prints where a command resolves in the JSH command path.

Syntax
which <command>

If the command cannot be found, which prints an error and returns a non-zero status.

Usage example
/work > which ls
/sbin/ls.js

Messaging Commands

mqtt_pub

Publishes a message to an MQTT broker.

Syntax
mqtt_pub [OPTION]...
Options
  • -t, --topic topic to publish to
  • -b, --broker broker address, default tcp://localhost:5653
  • -m, --message inline message payload
  • -f, --file file containing the payload
  • -q, --qos MQTT QoS level, one of 0, 1, 2
  • -d, --debug print debug logs
  • -h, --help show help

-m and -f are mutually exclusive.

Usage example
/work > mqtt_pub -t sensors/temp -m '{"value":21.5}'
/work > mqtt_pub -b tcp://broker:1883 -t logs/app -f payload.json -q 1

nats_pub

Publishes a message to a NATS subject. It can optionally wait for one reply by using an explicit reply subject or request mode.

Syntax
nats_pub [OPTION]...
Options
  • -t, --topic subject to publish to
  • -s, --subject alias for --topic
  • -b, --broker broker address, default nats://localhost:4222
  • -m, --message inline message payload
  • -f, --file file containing the payload
  • -r, --reply reply subject to wait on
  • --request generate a temporary inbox subject and wait for one response
  • --timeout connect and reply timeout in milliseconds, default 10000
  • -d, --debug print debug logs
  • -h, --help show help

-m and -f are mutually exclusive.

Usage example
/work > nats_pub -t events.demo -m 'hello'
/work > nats_pub -s rpc.echo -m 'ping' --request
/work > nats_pub -s rpc.echo -m 'ping' -r reply.demo --timeout 3000

Interactive Commands

repl

Starts the JSH JavaScript REPL. This is an interactive JavaScript evaluation environment rather than the command-oriented shell prompt.

Syntax
repl

shell

Starts a new JSH shell session. Use it when you want to enter a separate shell loop from the current process environment.

Syntax
shell
Last updated on
Service Manager