diff --git a/src/Psl/Internal/Loader.php b/src/Psl/Internal/Loader.php
index fb4e173..5ca5ac5 100644
--- a/src/Psl/Internal/Loader.php
+++ b/src/Psl/Internal/Loader.php
@@ -456,6 +456,9 @@ final class Loader
         'Psl\Encoding\Base64\decode',
         'Psl\Encoding\Hex\encode',
         'Psl\Encoding\Hex\decode',
+        'Psl\Shell\escape_command',
+        'Psl\Shell\escape_argument',
+        'Psl\Shell\execute',
     ];
 
     public const INTERFACES = [
@@ -477,6 +480,7 @@ final class Loader
         'Psl\Type\TypeInterface',
         'Psl\Type\Exception\ExceptionInterface',
         'Psl\Regex\Exception\ExceptionInterface',
+        'Psl\Shell\Exception\ExceptionInterface',
     ];
 
     public const TRAITS = [];
@@ -525,6 +529,9 @@ final class Loader
         'Psl\Encoding\Exception\IncorrectPaddingException',
         'Psl\Encoding\Exception\RangeException',
         'Psl\Regex\Exception\InvalidPatternException',
+        'Psl\Shell\Exception\FailedExecutionException',
+        'Psl\Shell\Exception\RuntimeException',
+        'Psl\Shell\Exception\PossibleAttackException',
     ];
 
     private const TYPE_CONSTANTS = 1;
diff --git a/src/Psl/Shell/Exception/ExceptionInterface.php b/src/Psl/Shell/Exception/ExceptionInterface.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc1b09b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Psl/Shell/Exception/ExceptionInterface.php
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Psl\Shell\Exception;
+
+use Psl\Exception;
+
+interface ExceptionInterface extends Exception\ExceptionInterface
+{
+}
diff --git a/src/Psl/Shell/Exception/FailedExecutionException.php b/src/Psl/Shell/Exception/FailedExecutionException.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ef2ed8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Psl/Shell/Exception/FailedExecutionException.php
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Psl\Shell\Exception;
+
+use Psl\Str;
+
+final class FailedExecutionException extends RuntimeException implements ExceptionInterface
+{
+    private string $command;
+
+    private string $stdoutContent;
+    private string $stderrContent;
+
+    public function __construct(string $command, string $stdout_content, string $stderr_content, int $code)
+    {
+        $message = Str\format('Shell command "%s" returned an exit code of "%d".', $command, $code);
+
+        parent::__construct($message, $code);
+
+        $this->command = $command;
+        $this->stdoutContent = $stdout_content;
+        $this->stderrContent = $stderr_content;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @psalm-mutation-free
+     */
+    public function getCommand(): string
+    {
+        return $this->command;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @psalm-mutation-free
+     */
+    public function getOutput(): string
+    {
+        return $this->stdoutContent;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @psalm-mutation-free
+     */
+    public function getErrorOutput(): string
+    {
+        return $this->stderrContent;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Psl/Shell/Exception/PossibleAttackException.php b/src/Psl/Shell/Exception/PossibleAttackException.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e4ecec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Psl/Shell/Exception/PossibleAttackException.php
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Psl\Shell\Exception;
+
+final class PossibleAttackException extends RuntimeException implements ExceptionInterface
+{
+}
diff --git a/src/Psl/Shell/Exception/RuntimeException.php b/src/Psl/Shell/Exception/RuntimeException.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bfd6cac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Psl/Shell/Exception/RuntimeException.php
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Psl\Shell\Exception;
+
+use Psl\Exception;
+
+class RuntimeException extends Exception\RuntimeException implements ExceptionInterface
+{
+}
diff --git a/src/Psl/Shell/escape_argument.php b/src/Psl/Shell/escape_argument.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d2d2241
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Psl/Shell/escape_argument.php
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Psl\Shell;
+
+use Psl\Regex;
+use Psl\Str\Byte;
+
+use const DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR;
+
+/**
+ * Escape a string to be used as a shell argument.
+ *
+ * @psalm-taint-escape shell
+ */
+function escape_argument(string $argument): string
+{
+    /**
+     * The following code was copied ( with modification ) from the Symfony Process Component (v5.2.3 - 2021-02-22)
+     *
+     * https://github.com/symfony/process/blob/b8d6eff26e48187fed15970799f4b605fa7242e4/Process.php#L1623-L1643
+     *
+     * @license MIT
+     * @see https://github.com/symfony/process/blob/b8d6eff26e48187fed15970799f4b605fa7242e4/LICENSE
+     *
+     * @copyright (c) 2004-2021 Fabien Potencier <fabien@symfony.com>
+     */
+    if ('' === $argument) {
+        return '""';
+    }
+
+    if ('\\' !== DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR) {
+        $argument = Byte\replace($argument, "'", "'\\''");
+
+        return "'" . $argument . "'";
+    }
+
+    // @codeCoverageIgnoreStart
+    /** @psalm-suppress MissingThrowsDocblock - safe ( $offset is within-of-bounds ) */
+    if (Byte\contains($argument, "\0")) {
+        $argument = Byte\replace($argument, "\0", '?');
+    }
+
+    /** @psalm-suppress MissingThrowsDocblock - safe ( $pattern is valid ) */
+    if (!Regex\matches($argument, '/[\/()%!^"<>&|\s]/')) {
+        return $argument;
+    }
+
+    /** @psalm-suppress MissingThrowsDocblock - safe ( $pattern is valid ) */
+    $argument = Regex\replace($argument, '/(\\\\+)$/', '$1$1');
+    $argument = Byte\replace_every($argument, [
+        '"' => '""',
+        '^' => '"^^"',
+        '%' => '"^%"',
+        '!' => '"^!"',
+        "\n" => '!LF!'
+    ]);
+
+    return '"' . $argument . '"';
+    // @codeCoverageIgnoreEnd
+}
diff --git a/src/Psl/Shell/escape_command.php b/src/Psl/Shell/escape_command.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c26ce6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Psl/Shell/escape_command.php
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Psl\Shell;
+
+use function escapeshellcmd;
+
+/**
+ * Escape shell metacharacters.
+ *
+ * @psalm-taint-escape shell
+ */
+function escape_command(string $argument): string
+{
+    return escapeshellcmd($argument);
+}
diff --git a/src/Psl/Shell/execute.php b/src/Psl/Shell/execute.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..98f04c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Psl/Shell/execute.php
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Psl\Shell;
+
+use Psl\Dict;
+use Psl\Env;
+use Psl\Str;
+use Psl\Vec;
+
+use function fclose;
+use function is_dir;
+use function is_resource;
+use function proc_close;
+use function proc_open;
+use function stream_get_contents;
+
+/**
+ * Execute an external program.
+ *
+ * @param string                $command            The command to execute.
+ * @param list<string>          $arguments          The command arguments listed as separate entries.
+ * @param string                $working_directory  The initial working directory for the command.
+ *                                                  This must be an absolute directory path, or null
+ *                                                  if you want to use the default value (the working dir of the
+ *                                                  current directory )
+ * @param array<string, string> $environment        An array with the environment variables for the command that
+ *                                                  will be run.
+ * @param bool                  $escape_arguments   If set to true ( default ), all $arguments will be escaped using
+ *                                                  `Shell\escape_argument`.
+ *
+ * @psalm-taint-sink shell $command
+ *
+ * @throws Exception\FailedExecutionException   In case the command resulted in an exit code other than 0.
+ * @throws Exception\PossibleAttackException    In case the command being run is suspicious ( e.g: contains NULL byte ).
+ * @throws Exception\RuntimeException           In case $working_directory doesn't exist, or unable to create a new
+ *                                              process.
+ */
+function execute(
+    string $command,
+    array $arguments = [],
+    ?string $working_directory = null,
+    array $environment = [],
+    bool $escape_arguments = true
+): string {
+    if ($escape_arguments) {
+        $arguments = Vec\map($arguments, static fn(string $argument): string => escape_argument($argument));
+    }
+
+    $commandline = Str\join([$command, ...$arguments], ' ');
+
+    /** @psalm-suppress MissingThrowsDocblock - safe ( $offset is within-of-bounds ) */
+    if (Str\contains($commandline, "\0")) {
+        throw new Exception\PossibleAttackException('NULL byte detected.');
+    }
+
+    $descriptor = [
+        1 => ['pipe', 'w'],
+        2 => ['pipe', 'w'],
+    ];
+
+    $environment = Dict\merge(Env\get_vars(), $environment);
+    $working_directory = $working_directory ?? Env\current_dir();
+    if (!is_dir($working_directory)) {
+        throw new Exception\RuntimeException('$working_directory does not exist.');
+    }
+
+    $process = proc_open($commandline, $descriptor, $pipes, $working_directory, $environment);
+    // @codeCoverageIgnoreStart
+    // not sure how to replicate this, but it can happen \_o.o_/
+    if (!is_resource($process)) {
+        throw new Exception\RuntimeException('Failed to open a new process.');
+    }
+    // @codeCoverageIgnoreEnd
+
+    $stdout_content = stream_get_contents($pipes[1]);
+    $stderr_content = stream_get_contents($pipes[2]);
+
+    fclose($pipes[1]);
+    fclose($pipes[2]);
+
+    $code = proc_close($process);
+    if ($code !== 0) {
+        throw new Exception\FailedExecutionException($commandline, $stdout_content, $stderr_content, $code);
+    }
+
+    return $stdout_content;
+}
diff --git a/tests/Psl/Shell/EscapeArgumentTest.php b/tests/Psl/Shell/EscapeArgumentTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4bb9f6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Psl/Shell/EscapeArgumentTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Psl\Tests\Shell;
+
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;
+use Psl\Shell;
+
+final class EscapeArgumentTest extends TestCase
+{
+    /**
+     * @dataProvider provideData
+     */
+    public function testEscapeArgument(string $argument): void
+    {
+        $output = Shell\execute(PHP_BINARY, ['-r', 'echo $argv[1];', $argument]);
+
+        static::assertSame($argument, $output);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return iterable<array{0: string}>
+     */
+    public function provideData(): iterable
+    {
+        yield ['a"b%c%'];
+        yield ['a"b^c^'];
+        yield ["a\nb'c"];
+        yield ['a^b c!'];
+        yield ["a!b\tc"];
+        yield ["look up ^"];
+        yield ['a\\\\"\\"'];
+        yield ['éÉèÈàÀöä'];
+        yield ['1'];
+        yield ['1.1'];
+        yield ['1%2'];
+        yield ["Hey there,\nHow are you doing!"];
+        yield [''];
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/Psl/Shell/EscapeCommandTest.php b/tests/Psl/Shell/EscapeCommandTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ec8d602
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Psl/Shell/EscapeCommandTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Psl\Tests\Shell;
+
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;
+use Psl\Shell;
+
+final class EscapeCommandTest extends TestCase
+{
+    public function testEscapeCommand(): void
+    {
+        static::assertSame(
+            "Hello, World!",
+            Shell\execute(Shell\escape_command(PHP_BINARY), ['-r', 'echo "Hello, World!";'])
+        );
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/Psl/Shell/Exception/FailedExecutionExceptionTest.php b/tests/Psl/Shell/Exception/FailedExecutionExceptionTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7ce49bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Psl/Shell/Exception/FailedExecutionExceptionTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Psl\Tests\Shell\Exception;
+
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;
+use Psl\Shell\Exception;
+
+final class FailedExecutionExceptionTest extends TestCase
+{
+    public function testMethods(): void
+    {
+        $exception = new Exception\FailedExecutionException('foo', 'bar', 'baz', 4);
+
+        static::assertSame('Shell command "foo" returned an exit code of "4".', $exception->getMessage());
+        static::assertSame('foo', $exception->getCommand());
+        static::assertSame('bar', $exception->getOutput());
+        static::assertSame('baz', $exception->getErrorOutput());
+        static::assertSame(4, $exception->getCode());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/Psl/Shell/ExecuteTest.php b/tests/Psl/Shell/ExecuteTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..228cc39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Psl/Shell/ExecuteTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Psl\Tests\Shell;
+
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;
+use Psl\Env;
+use Psl\SecureRandom;
+use Psl\Shell;
+
+use const PHP_OS_FAMILY;
+
+final class ExecuteTest extends TestCase
+{
+    public function testExecute(): void
+    {
+        static::assertSame(
+            "Hello, World!",
+            Shell\execute(PHP_BINARY, ['-r', 'echo "Hello, World!";'])
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testFailedExecution(): void
+    {
+        try {
+            Shell\execute('php', ['-r', 'write("Hello, World!");']);
+        } catch (Shell\Exception\FailedExecutionException $exception) {
+            static::assertSame(255, $exception->getCode());
+            static::assertStringContainsString('Call to undefined function write()', $exception->getErrorOutput());
+            static::assertStringContainsString('php', $exception->getCommand());
+        }
+    }
+
+    public function testItThrowsForNULLByte(): void
+    {
+        $this->expectException(Shell\Exception\PossibleAttackException::class);
+
+        Shell\execute('php', ["\0"]);
+    }
+
+    public function testEnvironmentIsPassedDownToTheProcess(): void
+    {
+        static::assertSame(
+            'BAR',
+            Shell\execute(PHP_BINARY, ['-r', 'echo getenv("FOO");'], null, ['FOO' => 'BAR'])
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testCurrentEnvironmentVariablesArePassedDownToTheProcess(): void
+    {
+        Env\set_var('FOO', 'BAR');
+
+        static::assertSame(
+            'BAR',
+            Shell\execute(PHP_BINARY, ['-r', 'echo getenv("FOO");'])
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testWorkingDirectoryIsUsed(): void
+    {
+        if ('Darwin' === PHP_OS_FAMILY) {
+            static::markTestSkipped();
+        }
+
+        $temp = Env\temp_dir();
+
+        static::assertSame(
+            $temp,
+            Shell\execute(PHP_BINARY, ['-r', 'echo getcwd();'], $temp)
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testCurrentDirectoryIsUsedByDefault(): void
+    {
+        $dir = Env\current_dir();
+
+        static::assertSame(
+            $dir,
+            Shell\execute(PHP_BINARY, ['-r', 'echo getcwd();'])
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testItThrowsWhenWorkingDirectoryDoesntExist(): void
+    {
+        $dir = Env\current_dir() . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . SecureRandom\string(6);
+
+        $this->expectException(Shell\Exception\RuntimeException::class);
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage('$working_directory does not exist.');
+
+        Shell\execute(PHP_BINARY, ['-r', 'echo getcwd();'], $dir);
+    }
+}