# Bun Run a Shell Command

> Run a Shell Command

- Skill: `jarle/bun-run-a-shell-command` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add jarle/bun-run-a-shell-command`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/jarle/bun-run-a-shell-command/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: jarle (https://skillmd.com/u/jarle)
- Updated: 2026-09-21
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/jarle/bun-run-a-shell-command

---


# Run a Shell Command

Bun Shell is a cross-platform bash-like shell built in to Bun.

It provides a simple way to run shell commands in JavaScript and TypeScript. To get started, import the `$` function from the `bun` package and use it to run shell commands.

```ts foo.ts icon="https://mintcdn.com/bun-1dd33a4e/nIz6GtMH5K-dfXeV/icons/typescript.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=nIz6GtMH5K-dfXeV&q=85&s=5d73d76daf7eb7b158469d8c30d349b0" theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"dracula"}}
import { $ } from "bun";

await $`echo Hello, world!`; // => "Hello, world!"
```

***

The `$` function is a tagged template literal that runs the command and returns a promise that resolves with the command's output.

```ts foo.ts icon="https://mintcdn.com/bun-1dd33a4e/nIz6GtMH5K-dfXeV/icons/typescript.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=nIz6GtMH5K-dfXeV&q=85&s=5d73d76daf7eb7b158469d8c30d349b0" theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"dracula"}}
import { $ } from "bun";

const output = await $`ls -l`.text();
console.log(output);
```

***

To get each line of the output as an array, use the `lines` method.

```ts foo.ts icon="https://mintcdn.com/bun-1dd33a4e/nIz6GtMH5K-dfXeV/icons/typescript.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=nIz6GtMH5K-dfXeV&q=85&s=5d73d76daf7eb7b158469d8c30d349b0" theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"dracula"}}
import { $ } from "bun";

for await (const line of $`ls -l`.lines()) {
  console.log(line);
}
```

***

See [Docs > API > Shell](/runtime/shell) for complete documentation.