ShellRef
Bash Shell Reference Manual
$3.99 · Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS.
Offline reference for Bash, Zsh, and now Nano, Vim, and Emacs, all in one app.
ShellRef is an offline reference for Bash, Zsh, and terminal editors, presented in the style of a retro technical manual.
It’s designed for quick lookup while you work, whether you’re writing your first shell script, checking quoting rules, reviewing Zsh behavior, or trying to remember a Vim command without opening a browser.
The app includes reference sections for:
Bash fundamentals, control flow, functions, strings and arrays, file I/O, processes, and scripting practices
Zsh differences, globbing, arrays, and configuration
Common command-line tools for text processing, file operations, and system tasks
Terminal editors including Nano, Vim, and Emacs
Topics are organized as short reference entries with examples, notes, warnings, and tables where they help clarify syntax and behavior.
ShellRef also includes:
Offline access to all content
Search across the full reference library
Bookmarks for saving quick references
Aged Paper (Light mode), Phosphor Green (Dark mode), and Phosphor Amber (Dark mode) display themes
Adjustable text size for easier reading on iPhone and iPad
ShellRef is intended for developers, sysadmins, students, and anyone who wants a readable shell reference without ads, accounts, or an internet connection.
Ratings & Reviews
ShellRef 1.3 makes the reference easier to learn from, not just look things up in.
• Reworked major Bash, Zsh, command, and editor sections into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced groups.
• Expanded explanations and examples throughout Shell Basics, Control Flow, Functions, Arrays, File I/O, Processes, Best Practices, and more.
• Improved Zsh coverage, including Bash differences, globbing, arrays, and configuration.
• Refined command references for text processing, file commands, and system commands.
• Expanded Nano, Vim, and Emacs editor guides.
• Added more historical context to the History of Bash section.
The developer, Andrew Bacon, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Andrew Bacon
- Size
- 18.5 MB
- Category
- Education
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 17.6 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 17.6 or later. - iPad
Requires iPadOS 17.6 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 14.7 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
4+
- 4+
- Copyright
- © 2026 Andrew Bacon
