bash or zsh on macOS Big Sur?

bash v. 3.2.57 still exists on Big Sur. The only reason you'd need to install it is if you need a newer version.

(basically it doesn't allow to be packaged with other non-free software).

That's not the problem with GPLv3. Apple doesn't sell any part of its OS. GPLv3 would require Apple to allow modification to their own source code by the user, such as the code that prevents macOS from running on non-Apple hardware.

spirosfromlondon wrote:

My suggestion to Apple was made in jest, sorry if that wasn't clear. I also agree that Apple should primarily accommodate to their core base which is mostly people who rarely open the terminal. However, the following message was confusing to me after updating to Big Sur:

The default interactive shell is now zsh.

To update your account to use zsh, please run `chsh -s /bin/zsh`.

For more details, please visit https://support.apple.com/kb/HT208050.

So, I made this post hoping that anyone who is used to bash will find it useful, guessing that the real reason behind this message is the older version of bash (If you know the real reason, please enlighten me)

I don't assume that everyone who wants to change shells must automatically know how to do it. At least for me, I had to do some searching first and I consider my "solution" easy since, I believe, people who often use the terminal also have brew installed in their system.

I think the link in the alert— makes it clear how to change shells ...

Use zsh as the default shell on your Mac

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208050

Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac

https://support.apple.com/en-lk/guide/terminal/trml113/mac

Real reason (?) It was already stated above it has to do with a licensing agreement.

You can see allow available shells from the command line, copy and paste:

 cat /etc/shells

And really annoying message from Apple to change our shell. I wouldn't mind using the old version if it wasn't for that message.

You posted how to disable the message. That should work in the installed version as well.

Agreed. But you'd be using the 2007 version.

I was commenting on your statement, "I wouldn't mind using the old version if it wasn't for that message."

Perhaps they can can add that you are still free to use an updated bash shell via brew.

That's always been true for all of the bundled unix software. You don't need to use Homebrew to install it, either. There are benefits to using Homebrew, but also some drawbacks.

People who use any shell environment should know how to install whatever shell they want. Apple doesn't need to tell them. I wouldn't suggest to a casual user that they could install some other version of the shell. The suggestion to switch default shells confuses too many people without adding the suggestion that they should install some package manager in order to install a shell when all they were doing was blindly running some command they found on the internet.

spirosfromlondon wrote:

Real reason (?) It was already stated above it has to do with a licensing agreement.

Yes, that is my opinion, the licensing issues, but perhaps you have other views? Apple doesn't clearly say the reason behind that change.

The GPL License for the current bash is incompatible with many application-distribution-systems, like the Mac App Store, and certain other software distribution platforms