AWS Shell vs Bash-My-AWS: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will compare AWS Shell and Bash-My-AWS, two popular command-line interfaces for managing Amazon Web Services (AWS) resources. We will highlight the key differences between the two tools, providing a detailed description of each difference.

1. Architecture: AWS Shell is based on the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) and provides an interactive shell environment for AWS services. On the other hand, Bash-My-AWS is a collection of Bash functions and scripts that can be sourced into a Bash shell. While both tools offer command-line access to AWS services, their underlying architectures differ significantly.

2. Ease of Use: AWS Shell is designed to provide a user-friendly interactive shell experience, allowing users to automatically complete commands, view command help, and navigate AWS services using familiar shell commands. On the other hand, Bash-My-AWS focuses on providing a set of convenient functions and aliases to simplify CLI invocation, making it easier to interact with AWS resources through the command line.

3. Extensibility: AWS Shell provides a built-in extensibility model that allows users to define their own custom commands using the Python programming language. This makes it easy to extend the functionality of the shell and automate complex AWS tasks. On the other hand, Bash-My-AWS does not have a built-in extension mechanism but offers a set of convenient shortcuts and helper functions to simplify common AWS CLI tasks.

4. Supported Platforms: AWS Shell is a standalone application that can be installed on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. It provides cross-platform support and consistent behavior across different environments. In contrast, Bash-My-AWS is designed to work specifically with the Bash shell, which is the default shell on most Unix-like systems. It may require additional configuration or modifications to work with other shells or operating systems.

5. Community Support: AWS Shell is an official AWS product and has active development and support from the AWS team. It is backed by comprehensive documentation, official forums, and regular updates. On the other hand, Bash-My-AWS is an open-source project maintained by the community. While it has a dedicated user base and active contributors, the level of support and documentation may vary compared to an official AWS product.

In summary, AWS Shell and Bash-My-AWS are both powerful command-line tools for managing AWS resources. While AWS Shell provides an interactive shell environment and supports custom commands, Bash-My-AWS focuses on simplifying CLI invocation through convenient functions and aliases. The choice between the two tools depends on the specific requirements and preferences of the user.