Shell scripts become unwieldy beyond 20 lines due to awkward process execution APIs. Janet's `sh` package offers a cleaner alternative with inline shell syntax while maintaining a proper programming language. Python provides better debugging and control flow but requires verbose subprocess calls. A custom Lua-based solution (harsh) attempts to bridge the gap by allowing verbatim shell code with programmatic wrappers. The search continues for the ideal shell script replacement that balances expressiveness with minimal boilerplate.
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