asdf vs inshellisense
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A command-line tool that manages multiple versions of languages like Ruby, Node.js and Elixir, using plugins.
Open source · MIT
IDE-style autocomplete suggestions for your terminal shell, supporting 600+ command line tools
The short answer
Choose asdf if you need…
- Developers who work on several projects that need different language versions
- Teams that want one version config file per project
- People moving from nvm, rbenv or pyenv who want to reuse their existing version files
Choose inshellisense if you need…
- Developers who spend a lot of time in the terminal and want suggestions for unfamiliar command options
- Users of bash, zsh, fish, PowerShell, xonsh, or nushell who want the same autocomplete experience across shells
- People who want to start the autocomplete session automatically when opening a shell
Side-by-side
| asdf | inshellisense | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Dev tool | Dev tool |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 25.6k | 10.8k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | See the README | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Go | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 5 days ago | 7 days ago |
What each one is
asdf
asdf is a command-line tool that lets you install and switch between different versions of programming languages and runtimes on a per-project basis. You add support for each language by installing a plugin. The README says it works like tools such as nvm, rbenv and pyenv, but in one tool with one set of commands.
inshellisense
inshellisense adds IDE-style autocomplete to your terminal. As you type a command, it shows a list of suggested options, subcommands, and flags that you can accept with the tab key. It uses the autocomplete specs from the withfig/autocomplete project, which cover over 600 command line tools, and works across Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Best for
asdf
- Developers who work on several projects that need different language versions
- Teams that want one version config file per project
- People moving from nvm, rbenv or pyenv who want to reuse their existing version files
inshellisense
- Developers who spend a lot of time in the terminal and want suggestions for unfamiliar command options
- Users of bash, zsh, fish, PowerShell, xonsh, or nushell who want the same autocomplete experience across shells
- People who want to start the autocomplete session automatically when opening a shell
Strengths
asdf
- One command set covers multiple languages through plugins
- Reads existing files such as .nvmrc and .ruby-version, which eases migration
- Supports shell completion for Bash, Zsh, Fish and Elvish
inshellisense
- Covers a large set of command line tools (600+ according to the README) through existing autocomplete specs
- Supports many shells, including bash, zsh, fish, PowerShell, and nushell
- Configurable through a single TOML file, including keybindings, suggestion count, and colors
Not ideal for
asdf
- People who only use one language and one version, since a single-language version manager may be simpler
- Users who need a graphical interface, because the README describes a CLI tool only
inshellisense
- People who are happy with their shell's built-in completion and do not want an extra layer on top of it
- Users who need autocomplete for the az, gcloud, or aws CLIs, since the README says those specs are not supported due to their size
- Users of cmd, since the README marks cmd support as experimental
Trade-offs
asdf
- Each language depends on its own plugin, so support quality varies by plugin (inferred from the plugin model described)
- The README is short and points to external docs for setup details, so the entry relies on those docs
inshellisense
- The README lists cmd support as experimental and excludes the az, gcloud, and aws specs
- Starting automatically from your shell config needs care: the README warns that the inshellisense line should be the last command in the file
- The README does not describe how it behaves in terminals or with shell features beyond what is listed, so edge cases are unclear
Getting started
asdf
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/asdf-vm/asdf.gitinshellisense
Install with npm (recommended)
npm install -g @microsoft/inshellisenseInitialize inshellisense
is initFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between asdf and inshellisense?
asdf: A command-line tool that manages multiple versions of languages like Ruby, Node.js and Elixir, using plugins. inshellisense: IDE-style autocomplete suggestions for your terminal shell, supporting 600+ command line tools. asdf suits developers who work on several projects that need different language versions, while inshellisense suits developers who spend a lot of time in the terminal and want suggestions for unfamiliar command options.
Are asdf and inshellisense free?
asdf: Free and open source. inshellisense: Free and open source.
Is asdf or inshellisense more popular?
asdf has more GitHub stars (25.6k) than inshellisense (10.8k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to asdf and inshellisense?
Other options people compare them with include nvm, rbenv, pyenv, mise, Oh My Posh.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.