Command-line interface

Use JetBrains DataSpell features from the command line: open files and projects, view diffs, merge files, apply code style formatting, and inspect the source code.

Launcher for a standalone instance

The installation directory contains batch scripts and executables for launching JetBrains DataSpell, formatting the source code, and running inspections. To use them from the Command Prompt cmd.exe, add the location of the JetBrains DataSpell bin folder to the PATH environment variable. For example, if you installed JetBrains DataSpell to C:\Program Files\JetBrains\JetBrains DataSpell, you can use the following command:

set PATH=%PATH%;C:\Program Files\JetBrains\JetBrains DataSpell\bin

This command changes the PATH environment variable for the current shell only (the current instance of cmd.exe ). If you want to update it permanently for the current user, run setx. To update it system-wide for all users, run setx /M.

After you configure the PATH variable, you can run the corresponding executable from any working directory in the Command Prompt: dataspell64.exe for 64-bit versions or dataspell.exe for 32-bit versions. Alternatively, you can use the batch script: dataspell.bat.

To run JetBrains DataSpell from the shell, use the open command with the following options:

-a: specify the application.
--args: specify additional arguments when passing more than just the file or directory to open.
-n: open a new instance of the application even if one is already running.

For example, you can run JetBrains DataSpell.app with the following command:

open -na "JetBrains DataSpell.app"

You can create a shell script with this command in a directory from your PATH environment variable. For example, create the file /usr/local/bin/dataspell with the following contents:

            #!/bin/sh

            open -na "JetBrains DataSpell.app" --args "$@"

Make sure you have permissions to execute the script and since /usr/local/bin should be in the PATH environment variable by default, you should be able to run dataspell from anywhere in the shell.

On Linux, the installation directory contains the launcher shell script dataspell.sh under bin. For example, if you installed JetBrains DataSpell to %install-dir%, you can run the script using the following command:

%install-dir%/bin/dataspell.sh

You can create a symbolic link to the launcher script in a directory from the PATH environment variable. For example, if you installed JetBrains DataSpell to %install-dir% and want to create a link named %symlink% in /usr/local/bin, run the following command:

ln -s %install-dir%/bin/dataspell.sh /usr/local/bin/%symlink%

Since /usr/local/bin should be in the PATH environment variable by default, you should be able to run the %symlink% command from anywhere in the shell.

Shell scripts generated by the Toolbox App

If you are using the Toolbox App to install and manage JetBrains products, it can create shell scripts for launching your IDEs from the command line.

Generate shell scripts

Open the Toolbox App and click in the top right corner.
In the Toolbox App Settings, enable Generate shell scripts.
If necessary, change the shell scripts location.

If you have several versions of the same IDE, the Toolbox App generates a shell script for each version with a unique name. You can change the name of the shell script for an IDE instance in the settings for this specific instance.

Change the name of the shell script

Open the Toolbox App.
Click next to the relevant IDE instance and select Settings.
At the bottom, change the Shell script name field.

By default, the Toolbox App puts shell scripts in a directory from the system PATH environment variable, so you can run the name of the script as a command to launch JetBrains DataSpell from any working directory.

Command-line arguments

The launcher script accepts commands, options, and other arguments to modify its behavior:

Argument	Description
No argument	Launch JetBrains DataSpell.
Commands
Options
`nosplash`	Do not show the splash screen when loading JetBrains DataSpell.
`dontReopenProjects`	Do not reopen projects and show the welcome screen. This can help if a project that was open crashes JetBrains DataSpell for some reason.
`disableNonBundledPlugins`	Do not load manually installed plugins. This can help if a plugin that you installed crashes JetBrains DataSpell for some reason. You will be able to start the IDE and either disable or uninstall the problematic plugin.
`--wait`	Wait for the files to be closed before returning to the command prompt.

Last modified: 08 March 2021