The issue was the missing ` -x ` .. which is the correct "translation" of "export ISE_EIFFEL=.." in fish shell. i.e set -x ISE_EIFFEL /home/eiffel/opt/Eiffel_19.05 set -x ISE_PLATFORM linux-x86-64 set -g -x PATH $PATH $ISE_EIFFEL/studio/spec/$ISE_PLATFORM/bin In additon, I would suggest to add the following paths to the PATH $ISE_EIFFEL/tools/spec/$ISE_PLATFORM/bin $ISE_EIFFEL/library/gobo/spec/$ISE_PLATFORM/bin Regards