[chasil]

My point is that the shell would be a much better tool if the language could be expressed with a simple, LR-parsed yacc grammar.

Because the shell needs such an advanced parser, it shows that the language is full of ambiguity and pitfalls.

The slides for the parent presentation have this gem:

Quiz: Which is the command that outputs \\ ?

1 echo "\\\"

2 echo "\\\\"

3 echo "\\\\\\"

The language should be clearer, and less ambiguous.