diff --git a/bin/hirb.rb b/bin/hirb.rb
index fcbec7809c9d..5b502f4ca3d5 100644
--- a/bin/hirb.rb
+++ b/bin/hirb.rb
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@
  -h | --help             This help.
  -n | --noninteractive   Do not run within an IRB session and exit with non-zero
                          status on first error.
+ --top-level-defs        Compatibility flag to export HBase shell commands onto
+                         Ruby's main object
  -Dkey=value             Pass hbase-*.xml Configuration overrides. For example, to
                          use an alternate zookeeper ensemble, pass:
                            -Dhbase.zookeeper.quorum=zookeeper.example.org
@@ -81,6 +83,7 @@ def add_to_configuration(c, arg)
 log_level = org.apache.log4j.Level::ERROR
 @shell_debug = false
 interactive = true
+top_level_definitions = false
 _configuration = nil
 D_ARG = '-D'.freeze
 while (arg = ARGV.shift)
@@ -108,6 +111,8 @@ def add_to_configuration(c, arg)
     warn '[INFO] the -r | --return-values option is ignored. we always behave '\
          'as though it was given.'
     found.push(arg)
+  elsif arg == '--top-level-defs'
+    top_level_definitions = true
   else
     # Presume it a script. Save it off for running later below
     # after we've set up some environment.
@@ -143,21 +148,10 @@ def add_to_configuration(c, arg)
 @shell = Shell::Shell.new(@hbase, interactive)
 @shell.debug = @shell_debug
 
-# Add commands to this namespace
-# TODO avoid polluting main namespace by using a binding
-@shell.export_commands(self)
-
-# Add help command
-def help(command = nil)
-  @shell.help(command)
-end
-
-# Backwards compatibility method
-def tools
-  @shell.help_group('tools')
-end
-
-# Debugging method
+##
+# Toggle shell debugging
+#
+# @return [Boolean] true if debug is turned on after updating the flag
 def debug
   if @shell_debug
     @shell_debug = false
@@ -173,26 +167,34 @@ def debug
   debug?
 end
 
+##
+# Print whether debug is on or off
 def debug?
   puts "Debug mode is #{@shell_debug ? 'ON' : 'OFF'}\n\n"
   nil
 end
 
-# Include hbase constants
-include HBaseConstants
+# For backwards compatibility, this will export all the HBase shell commands, constants, and
+# instance variables (@hbase and @shell) onto Ruby's top-level receiver object known as "main".
+@shell.export_all(self) if top_level_definitions
 
 # If script2run, try running it.  If we're in interactive mode, will go on to run the shell unless
 # script calls 'exit' or 'exit 0' or 'exit errcode'.
-load(script2run) if script2run
+@shell.eval_io(File.new(script2run)) if script2run
+
+# If we are not running interactively, evaluate standard input
+@shell.eval_io(STDIN) unless interactive
 
 if interactive
   # Output a banner message that tells users where to go for help
   @shell.print_banner
 
   require 'irb'
+  require 'irb/ext/change-ws'
   require 'irb/hirb'
 
   module IRB
+    # Override of the default IRB.start
     def self.start(ap_path = nil)
       $0 = File.basename(ap_path, '.rb') if ap_path
 
@@ -207,7 +209,12 @@ def self.start(ap_path = nil)
                HIRB.new
              end
 
+      shl = TOPLEVEL_BINDING.receiver.instance_variable_get :'@shell'
+      hirb.context.change_workspace shl.get_workspace
+
       @CONF[:IRB_RC].call(hirb.context) if @CONF[:IRB_RC]
+      # Storing our current HBase IRB Context as the main context is imperative for several reasons,
+      # including auto-completion.
       @CONF[:MAIN_CONTEXT] = hirb.context
 
       catch(:IRB_EXIT) do
@@ -217,48 +224,4 @@ def self.start(ap_path = nil)
   end
 
   IRB.start
-else
-  begin
-    # Noninteractive mode: if there is input on stdin, do a simple REPL.
-    # XXX Note that this purposefully uses STDIN and not Kernel.gets
-    #     in order to maintain compatibility with previous behavior where
-    #     a user could pass in script2run and then still pipe commands on
-    #     stdin.
-    require 'irb/ruby-lex'
-    require 'irb/workspace'
-    workspace = IRB::WorkSpace.new(binding)
-    scanner = RubyLex.new
-
-    # RubyLex claims to take an IO but really wants an InputMethod
-    module IOExtensions
-      def encoding
-        external_encoding
-      end
-    end
-    IO.include IOExtensions
-
-    scanner.set_input(STDIN)
-    scanner.each_top_level_statement do |statement, linenum|
-      puts(workspace.evaluate(nil, statement, 'stdin', linenum))
-    end
-  # XXX We're catching Exception on purpose, because we want to include
-  #     unwrapped java exceptions, syntax errors, eval failures, etc.
-  rescue Exception => exception
-    message = exception.to_s
-    # exception unwrapping in shell means we'll have to handle Java exceptions
-    # as a special case in order to format them properly.
-    if exception.is_a? java.lang.Exception
-      warn 'java exception'
-      message = exception.get_message
-    end
-    # Include the 'ERROR' string to try to make transition easier for scripts that
-    # may have already been relying on grepping output.
-    puts "ERROR #{exception.class}: #{message}"
-    if $fullBacktrace
-      # re-raising the will include a backtrace and exit.
-      raise exception
-    else
-      exit 1
-    end
-  end
 end
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/admin.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/admin.rb
index 6bc09f18a765..807b5a10e80b 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/admin.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/admin.rb
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 java_import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName
 java_import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder
 java_import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.TableDescriptorBuilder
+java_import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.HConstants
 
 # Wrapper for org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.HBaseAdmin
 
@@ -1011,7 +1012,7 @@ def cfd(arg, tdb)
       cfdb.setTimeToLive(arg.delete(ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder::TTL)) if arg.include?(ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder::TTL)
       cfdb.setDataBlockEncoding(org.apache.hadoop.hbase.io.encoding.DataBlockEncoding.valueOf(arg.delete(ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder::DATA_BLOCK_ENCODING))) if arg.include?(ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder::DATA_BLOCK_ENCODING)
       cfdb.setBlocksize(JInteger.valueOf(arg.delete(ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder::BLOCKSIZE))) if arg.include?(ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder::BLOCKSIZE)
-      cfdb.setMaxVersions(JInteger.valueOf(arg.delete(ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder::VERSIONS))) if arg.include?(ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder::VERSIONS)
+      cfdb.setMaxVersions(JInteger.valueOf(arg.delete(HConstants::VERSIONS))) if arg.include?(HConstants::VERSIONS)
       cfdb.setMinVersions(JInteger.valueOf(arg.delete(ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder::MIN_VERSIONS))) if arg.include?(ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder::MIN_VERSIONS)
       cfdb.setKeepDeletedCells(org.apache.hadoop.hbase.KeepDeletedCells.valueOf(arg.delete(ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder::KEEP_DELETED_CELLS).to_s.upcase)) if arg.include?(ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder::KEEP_DELETED_CELLS)
       cfdb.setCompressTags(JBoolean.valueOf(arg.delete(ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder::COMPRESS_TAGS))) if arg.include?(ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder::COMPRESS_TAGS)
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/quotas.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/quotas.rb
index 62c54c98ba84..75757c18fc46 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/quotas.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/quotas.rb
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ module HBaseQuotasConstants
 module Hbase
   # rubocop:disable Metrics/ClassLength
   class QuotasAdmin
+    include HBaseConstants
+    include HBaseQuotasConstants
+
     def initialize(admin)
       @admin = admin
     end
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/rsgroup_admin.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/rsgroup_admin.rb
index 2027c778dbec..dfffb5672a8a 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/rsgroup_admin.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/rsgroup_admin.rb
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@
 
 module Hbase
   class RSGroupAdmin
-    include HBaseConstants
-
     def initialize(connection)
       @connection = connection
       @admin = @connection.getAdmin
@@ -213,11 +211,11 @@ def alter_rsgroup_config(rsgroup_name, *args)
         unless arg.is_a?(Hash)
           raise(ArgumentError, "#{arg.class} of #{arg.inspect} is not of Hash type")
         end
-        method = arg[METHOD]
+        method = arg[::HBaseConstants::METHOD]
         if method == 'unset'
-          configuration.remove(arg[NAME])
+          configuration.remove(arg[::HBaseConstants::NAME])
         elsif method == 'set'
-          arg.delete(METHOD)
+          arg.delete(::HBaseConstants::METHOD)
           for k, v in arg
             v = v.to_s unless v.nil?
             configuration.put(k, v)
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/security.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/security.rb
index e95f0946c413..652459a9668c 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/security.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/security.rb
@@ -22,8 +22,6 @@
 
 module Hbase
   class SecurityAdmin
-    include HBaseConstants
-
     def initialize(admin)
       @admin = admin
       @connection = @admin.getConnection
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/taskmonitor.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/taskmonitor.rb
index 8509b5dc6529..02c84320c13c 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/taskmonitor.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/taskmonitor.rb
@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@
 
 module Hbase
   class TaskMonitor
-    include HBaseConstants
-
     #---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # Represents information reported by a server on a single MonitoredTask
     class Task
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase_constants.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase_constants.rb
index 9d16aa67fa83..cd21e78a8648 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase_constants.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase_constants.rb
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def self.promote_constants(constants)
   promote_constants(org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.TableDescriptorBuilder.constants)
 end
 
-# Include classes definition
+# Ensure that hbase class definitions are imported
 require 'hbase/hbase'
 require 'hbase/admin'
 require 'hbase/taskmonitor'
@@ -126,5 +126,3 @@ def self.promote_constants(constants)
 require 'hbase/security'
 require 'hbase/visibility_labels'
 require 'hbase/rsgroup_admin'
-
-include HBaseQuotasConstants
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell.rb
index 92e52fae4a64..1217ca68a59a 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell.rb
@@ -16,6 +16,29 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 #
+require 'irb'
+require 'irb/workspace'
+
+#
+# Simple class to act as the main receiver for an IRB Workspace (and its respective ruby Binding)
+# in our HBase shell. This will hold all the commands we want in our shell.
+#
+class HBaseReceiver < Object
+  def get_binding
+    binding
+  end
+end
+
+##
+# HBaseIOExtensions is a module to be "mixed-in" (ie. included) to Ruby's IO class. It is required
+# if you want to use RubyLex with an IO object. RubyLex claims to take an IO but really wants an
+# InputMethod.
+module HBaseIOExtensions
+  def encoding
+    external_encoding
+  end
+end
+
 
 # Shell commands module
 module Shell
@@ -115,20 +138,48 @@ def hbase_rsgroup_admin
       @rsgroup_admin ||= hbase.rsgroup_admin
     end
 
-    def export_commands(where)
+    ##
+    # Create singleton methods on the target receiver object for all the loaded commands
+    #
+    # Therefore, export_commands will create "class methods" if passed a Module/Class and if passed
+    # an instance the methods will not exist on any other instances of the instantiated class.
+    def export_commands(target)
+      # We need to store a reference to this Shell instance in the scope of this method so that it
+      # can be accessed later in the scope of the target object.
+      shell_inst = self
+      # Define each method as a lambda. We need to use a lambda (rather than a Proc or block) for
+      # its properties: preservation of local variables and return
       ::Shell.commands.keys.each do |cmd|
-        # here where is the IRB namespace
-        # this method just adds the call to the specified command
-        # which just references back to 'this' shell object
-        # a decently extensible way to add commands
-        where.send :instance_eval, <<-EOF
-          def #{cmd}(*args)
-            ret = @shell.command('#{cmd}', *args)
-            puts
-            return ret
-          end
-        EOF
+        target.send :define_singleton_method, cmd.to_sym, lambda { |*args|
+          ret = shell_inst.command(cmd.to_s, *args)
+          puts
+          ret
+        }
       end
+      # Export help method
+      target.send :define_singleton_method, :help, lambda { |command = nil|
+        shell_inst.help(command)
+        nil
+      }
+      # Export tools method for backwards compatibility
+      target.send :define_singleton_method, :tools, lambda {
+        shell_inst.help_group('tools')
+        nil
+      }
+    end
+
+    # Export HBase commands, constants, and variables to target receiver
+    def export_all(target)
+      raise ArgumentError, 'target should not be a module' if target.is_a? Module
+
+      # add constants to class of target
+      target.class.include ::HBaseConstants
+      target.class.include ::HBaseQuotasConstants
+      # add instance variables @hbase and @shell for backwards compatibility
+      target.instance_variable_set :'@hbase', @hbase
+      target.instance_variable_set :'@shell', self
+      # add commands to target
+      export_commands(target)
     end
 
     def command_instance(command)
@@ -238,6 +289,61 @@ def help_footer
 For more on the HBase Shell, see http://hbase.apache.org/book.html
       HERE
     end
+
+    @irb_workspace = nil
+    ##
+    # Returns an IRB Workspace for this shell instance with all the IRB and HBase commands installed
+    def get_workspace
+      return @irb_workspace unless @irb_workspace.nil?
+
+      hbase_receiver = HBaseReceiver.new
+      # Install all the hbase commands, constants, and instance variables @shell and @hbase. This
+      # must be BEFORE the irb commands are installed so that our help command is not overwritten.
+      export_all(hbase_receiver)
+      # install all the IRB commands onto our receiver
+      IRB::ExtendCommandBundle.extend_object(hbase_receiver)
+      ::IRB::WorkSpace.new(hbase_receiver.get_binding)
+    end
+
+    ##
+    # Read from an instance of Ruby's IO class and evaluate each line within the shell's workspace
+    #
+    # Unlike Ruby's require or load, this method allows us to execute code with a custom binding. In
+    # this case, we are using the binding constructed with all the HBase shell constants and
+    # methods.
+    def eval_io(io)
+      require 'irb/ruby-lex'
+      # Mixing HBaseIOExtensions into IO allows us to pass IO objects to RubyLex.
+      IO.include HBaseIOExtensions
+
+      workspace = get_workspace
+      scanner = RubyLex.new
+      scanner.set_input(io)
+
+      begin
+        scanner.each_top_level_statement do |statement, linenum|
+          puts(workspace.evaluate(nil, statement, 'stdin', linenum))
+        end
+      rescue Exception => e
+        message = e.to_s
+        # exception unwrapping in shell means we'll have to handle Java exceptions
+        # as a special case in order to format them properly.
+        if e.is_a? java.lang.Exception
+          warn 'java exception'
+          message = e.get_message
+        end
+        # Include the 'ERROR' string to try to make transition easier for scripts that
+        # may have already been relying on grepping output.
+        puts "ERROR #{e.class}: #{message}"
+        if $fullBacktrace
+          # re-raising the will include a backtrace and exit.
+          raise e
+        else
+          exit 1
+        end
+      end
+      nil
+    end
   end
   # rubocop:enable Metrics/ClassLength
 end
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/clone_snapshot.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/clone_snapshot.rb
index 8f0b35b39e7a..abc975919d92 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/clone_snapshot.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/clone_snapshot.rb
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def help
 
       def command(snapshot_name, table, args = {})
         raise(ArgumentError, 'Arguments should be a Hash') unless args.is_a?(Hash)
-        restore_acl = args.delete(RESTORE_ACL) || false
+        restore_acl = args.delete(::HBaseConstants::RESTORE_ACL) || false
         admin.clone_snapshot(snapshot_name, table, restore_acl)
       end
 
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/describe.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/describe.rb
index 0553755daba3..c32b77d9eaba 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/describe.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/describe.rb
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def command(table)
           # No QUOTAS if hbase:meta table
           puts
           formatter.header(%w[QUOTAS])
-          count = quotas_admin.list_quotas(TABLE => table.to_s) do |_, quota|
+          count = quotas_admin.list_quotas(::HBaseConstants::TABLE => table.to_s) do |_, quota|
             formatter.row([quota])
           end
           formatter.footer(count)
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/describe_namespace.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/describe_namespace.rb
index fd14c4582f53..a929887dda15 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/describe_namespace.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/describe_namespace.rb
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def command(namespace)
         ns = namespace.to_s
         if admin.exists?(::HBaseQuotasConstants::QUOTA_TABLE_NAME.to_s)
           puts formatter.header(%w[QUOTAS])
-          count = quotas_admin.list_quotas(NAMESPACE => ns) do |_, quota|
+          count = quotas_admin.list_quotas(::HBaseConstants::NAMESPACE => ns) do |_, quota|
             formatter.row([quota])
           end
           formatter.footer(count)
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/list_regions.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/list_regions.rb
index 262ab1e8799e..e0030393af6a 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/list_regions.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/list_regions.rb
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def command(table_name, options = nil, cols = nil)
         elsif !options.is_a? Hash
           # When options isn't a hash, assume it's the server name
           # and create the hash internally
-          options = { SERVER_NAME => options }
+          options = { ::HBaseConstants::SERVER_NAME => options }
         end
 
         raise "Table #{table_name} must be enabled." unless admin.enabled?(table_name)
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def command(table_name, options = nil, cols = nil)
         hregion_locator_instance = conn_instance.getRegionLocator(TableName.valueOf(table_name))
         hregion_locator_list = hregion_locator_instance.getAllRegionLocations.to_a
         results = []
-        desired_server_name = options[SERVER_NAME]
+        desired_server_name = options[::HBaseConstants::SERVER_NAME]
 
         begin
           # Filter out region servers which we don't want, default to all RS
@@ -93,11 +93,16 @@ def command(table_name, options = nil, cols = nil)
           # A locality threshold of "1.0" would be all regions (cannot have greater than 1 locality)
           # Regions which have a `dataLocality` less-than-or-equal to this value are accepted
           locality_threshold = 1.0
-          if options.key? LOCALITY_THRESHOLD
-            value = options[LOCALITY_THRESHOLD]
+          if options.key? ::HBaseConstants::LOCALITY_THRESHOLD
+            value = options[::HBaseConstants::LOCALITY_THRESHOLD]
             # Value validation. Must be a Float, and must be between [0, 1.0]
-            raise "#{LOCALITY_THRESHOLD} must be a float value" unless value.is_a? Float
-            raise "#{LOCALITY_THRESHOLD} must be between 0 and 1.0, inclusive" unless valid_locality_threshold? value
+            unless value.is_a? Float
+              raise "#{::HBaseConstants::LOCALITY_THRESHOLD} must be a float value"
+            end
+            unless valid_locality_threshold? value
+              raise "#{::HBaseConstants::LOCALITY_THRESHOLD} must be between 0 and 1.0, inclusive"
+            end
+
             locality_threshold = value
           end
 
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/restore_snapshot.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/restore_snapshot.rb
index be6ee3ca827a..56168fa4a609 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/restore_snapshot.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/restore_snapshot.rb
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def help
 
       def command(snapshot_name, args = {})
         raise(ArgumentError, 'Arguments should be a Hash') unless args.is_a?(Hash)
-        restore_acl = args.delete(RESTORE_ACL) || false
+        restore_acl = args.delete(::HBaseConstants::RESTORE_ACL) || false
         admin.restore_snapshot(snapshot_name, restore_acl)
       end
     end
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/set_quota.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/set_quota.rb
index 7e8e563ce031..5a5669a9cc88 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/set_quota.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/set_quota.rb
@@ -123,31 +123,36 @@ def help
       end
 
       def command(args = {})
-        if args.key?(TYPE)
-          qtype = args.delete(TYPE)
+        if args.key?(::HBaseConstants::TYPE)
+          qtype = args.delete(::HBaseConstants::TYPE)
           case qtype
-          when THROTTLE
-            if args[LIMIT].eql? NONE
-              args.delete(LIMIT)
+          when ::HBaseQuotasConstants::THROTTLE
+            if args[::HBaseConstants::LIMIT].eql? ::HBaseConstants::NONE
+              args.delete(::HBaseConstants::LIMIT)
               quotas_admin.unthrottle(args)
             else
               quotas_admin.throttle(args)
             end
-          when SPACE
-            if args[LIMIT].eql? NONE
-              args.delete(LIMIT)
+          when ::HBaseQuotasConstants::SPACE
+            if args[::HBaseConstants::LIMIT].eql? ::HBaseConstants::NONE
+              args.delete(::HBaseConstants::LIMIT)
               # Table/Namespace argument is verified in remove_space_limit
               quotas_admin.remove_space_limit(args)
             else
-              raise(ArgumentError, 'Expected a LIMIT to be provided') unless args.key?(LIMIT)
-              raise(ArgumentError, 'Expected a POLICY to be provided') unless args.key?(POLICY)
+              unless args.key?(::HBaseConstants::LIMIT)
+                raise(ArgumentError, 'Expected a LIMIT to be provided')
+              end
+              unless args.key?(::HBaseConstants::POLICY)
+                raise(ArgumentError, 'Expected a POLICY to be provided')
+              end
+
               quotas_admin.limit_space(args)
             end
           else
             raise 'Invalid TYPE argument. got ' + qtype
           end
-        elsif args.key?(GLOBAL_BYPASS)
-          quotas_admin.set_global_bypass(args.delete(GLOBAL_BYPASS), args)
+        elsif args.key?(::HBaseQuotasConstants::GLOBAL_BYPASS)
+          quotas_admin.set_global_bypass(args.delete(::HBaseQuotasConstants::GLOBAL_BYPASS), args)
         else
           raise 'Expected TYPE argument'
         end
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/admin2_test.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/admin2_test.rb
index 16233c009f67..e420c74779fb 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/admin2_test.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/admin2_test.rb
@@ -23,12 +23,11 @@
 require 'hbase/hbase'
 require 'hbase/table'
 
-include HBaseConstants
-
 module Hbase
   # Tests for the `status` shell command
   class StatusTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
 
     def setup
       setup_hbase
@@ -126,7 +125,7 @@ def teardown
 
     define_test "Snapshot should work when SKIP_FLUSH args" do
       drop_test_snapshot()
-      command(:snapshot, @test_name, @create_test_snapshot, {SKIP_FLUSH => true})
+      command(:snapshot, @test_name, @create_test_snapshot, {::HBaseConstants::SKIP_FLUSH => true})
       list = command(:list_snapshots, @create_test_snapshot)
       assert_equal(1, list.size)
     end
@@ -156,7 +155,7 @@ def teardown
       assert_match(/f1/, admin.describe(restore_table))
       assert_match(/f2/, admin.describe(restore_table))
       command(:snapshot, restore_table, @create_test_snapshot)
-      command(:alter, restore_table, METHOD => 'delete', NAME => 'f1')
+      command(:alter, restore_table, ::HBaseConstants::METHOD => 'delete', ::HBaseConstants::NAME => 'f1')
       assert_no_match(/f1/, admin.describe(restore_table))
       assert_match(/f2/, admin.describe(restore_table))
       drop_test_table(restore_table)
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/admin_test.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/admin_test.rb
index 11798c338591..374d9c165399 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/admin_test.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/admin_test.rb
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 require 'hbase/hbase'
 require 'hbase/table'
 
-include HBaseConstants
 
 module Hbase
   class AdminHelpersTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
@@ -63,6 +62,8 @@ def teardown
   # rubocop:disable Metrics/ClassLength
   class AdminMethodsTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
+    include HBaseQuotasConstants
 
     def setup
       setup_hbase
@@ -550,9 +551,9 @@ def teardown
       ns = @create_test_name
       command(:create_namespace, ns)
       command(:set_quota,
-              TYPE => SPACE,
+              TYPE => ::HBaseQuotasConstants::SPACE,
               LIMIT => '1G',
-              POLICY => NO_INSERTS,
+              POLICY => ::HBaseQuotasConstants::NO_INSERTS,
               NAMESPACE => ns)
       output = capture_stdout { command(:describe_namespace, ns) }
       puts output
@@ -567,8 +568,8 @@ def teardown
       assert(output.include?('1 row(s)'))
 
       command(:set_quota,
-              TYPE => SPACE,
-              LIMIT => NONE,
+              TYPE => ::HBaseQuotasConstants::SPACE,
+              LIMIT => ::HBaseConstants::NONE,
               NAMESPACE => ns)
       output = capture_stdout { command(:describe_namespace, ns) }
       assert(output.include?('0 row(s)'))
@@ -675,6 +676,8 @@ def teardown
   # Simple administration methods tests
   class AdminCloneTableSchemaTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
+
     def setup
       setup_hbase
       # Create table test table name
@@ -758,6 +761,8 @@ def teardown
   # Simple administration methods tests
   class AdminRegionTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
+
     def setup
       setup_hbase
       # Create test table if it does not exist
@@ -846,6 +851,7 @@ def teardown
   # rubocop:disable Metrics/ClassLength
   class AdminAlterTableTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
 
     def setup
       setup_hbase
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/list_regions_test_no_cluster.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/list_regions_test_no_cluster.rb
index 73d744c345f6..6be259779d95 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/list_regions_test_no_cluster.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/list_regions_test_no_cluster.rb
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@
 require 'shell'
 require 'hbase_constants'
 
-include HBaseConstants
-
 java_import 'org.apache.hadoop.hbase.HRegionLocation'
 java_import 'org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.RegionInfoBuilder'
 java_import 'org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ServerName'
@@ -27,6 +25,7 @@
 module Hbase
   class NoClusterListRegionsTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
 
     define_test 'valid_locality_values' do
       command = ::Shell::Commands::ListRegions.new(nil)
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/quotas_test.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/quotas_test.rb
index 9fddb83a4138..c4fca28bdfdc 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/quotas_test.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/quotas_test.rb
@@ -23,12 +23,12 @@
 require 'hbase/hbase'
 require 'hbase/table'
 
-include HBaseConstants
-
 module Hbase
   # rubocop:disable Metrics/ClassLength
   class SpaceQuotasTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
+    include HBaseQuotasConstants
 
     def setup
       setup_hbase
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/quotas_test_no_cluster.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/quotas_test_no_cluster.rb
index 7de122553ffd..79f735021a8a 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/quotas_test_no_cluster.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/quotas_test_no_cluster.rb
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@
 require 'hbase/hbase'
 require 'hbase/table'
 
-include HBaseConstants
-
 java_import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.quotas.SpaceQuotaSnapshot
 java_import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.quotas.SpaceViolationPolicy
 java_import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName
@@ -32,6 +30,7 @@
 module Hbase
   class NoClusterSpaceQuotasTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
 
     define_test '_parse_size accepts various forms of byte shorthand' do
       qa = ::Hbase::QuotasAdmin.new(nil)
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/replication_admin_test.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/replication_admin_test.rb
index f6f41d2f7eb9..72fbe943040f 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/replication_admin_test.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/replication_admin_test.rb
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 require 'hbase/hbase'
 require 'hbase/table'
 
-include HBaseConstants
 include Java
 
 java_import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.replication.SyncReplicationState
@@ -30,6 +29,7 @@
 module Hbase
   class ReplicationAdminTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
 
     def setup
       @peer_id = '1'
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/security_admin_test.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/security_admin_test.rb
index e1360c27301b..6e9a50cafcd1 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/security_admin_test.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/security_admin_test.rb
@@ -22,12 +22,11 @@
 require 'hbase/hbase'
 require 'hbase/table'
 
-include HBaseConstants
-
 module Hbase
   # Simple secure administration methods tests
   class SecureAdminMethodsTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
 
     def setup
       setup_hbase
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/table_test.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/table_test.rb
index 0eef0179b3f5..20bcb500a803 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/table_test.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/table_test.rb
@@ -19,12 +19,12 @@
 
 require 'hbase_constants'
 
-include HBaseConstants
-
 module Hbase
   # Constructor tests
   class TableConstructorTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
+
     def setup
       setup_hbase
     end
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ def tearDown
   # Simple data management methods tests
   class TableSimpleMethodsTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
 
     def setup
       setup_hbase
@@ -225,6 +226,7 @@ def teardown
   # rubocop:disable Metrics/ClassLength
   class TableComplexMethodsTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
 
     def setup
       setup_hbase
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/test_connection_no_cluster.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/test_connection_no_cluster.rb
index d240ff860466..361937634c3c 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/test_connection_no_cluster.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/test_connection_no_cluster.rb
@@ -23,11 +23,10 @@
 require 'hbase/hbase'
 require 'hbase/table'
 
-include HBaseConstants
-
 module Hbase
   class NoClusterConnectionTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
 
     def setup
       puts "starting shell"
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/visibility_labels_admin_test.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/visibility_labels_admin_test.rb
index b42290fa8dda..e69710d69a53 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/visibility_labels_admin_test.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/visibility_labels_admin_test.rb
@@ -22,12 +22,11 @@
 require 'hbase/hbase'
 require 'hbase/table'
 
-include HBaseConstants
-
 module Hbase
   # Simple secure administration methods tests
   class VisibilityLabelsAdminMethodsTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
 
     def setup
       setup_hbase
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/converter_test.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/converter_test.rb
index 8b6079bcb36b..51e674093f25 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/converter_test.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/converter_test.rb
@@ -17,11 +17,10 @@
 require 'hbase_constants'
 require 'shell'
 
-include HBaseConstants
-
 module Hbase
   class ConverterTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
 
     non_ascii_text = '⻆⻇'
     non_ascii_row = '⻄'
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/list_procedures_test.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/list_procedures_test.rb
index 1cad23b0057f..2bf5824c0ee3 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/list_procedures_test.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/list_procedures_test.rb
@@ -20,11 +20,10 @@
 require 'hbase_constants'
 require 'shell'
 
-include HBaseConstants
-
 module Hbase
   class ListProceduresTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     include TestHelpers
+    include HBaseConstants
 
     def setup
       setup_hbase
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/shell_test.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/shell_test.rb
index e7f5b2639ceb..9fd28c0f7c37 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/shell_test.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/shell_test.rb
@@ -61,6 +61,46 @@ module Foo; end
 
   #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+  define_test 'Shell::Shell#export_all export commands, constants, and variables' do
+    module FooM; end
+    class FooC; end
+    foo = FooC.new
+
+    # export_all should reject classes and modules as targets
+    assert_raise(ArgumentError) do
+      @shell.export_all(FooM)
+    end
+    assert_raise(ArgumentError) do
+      @shell.export_all(FooC)
+    end
+
+    # For potency, verify that none of the commands, variables or constants exist before export
+    assert(!foo.respond_to?(:version))
+    assert(foo.instance_variable_get(:'@shell').nil?)
+    assert(foo.instance_variable_get(:'@hbase').nil?)
+    assert(!foo.class.const_defined?(:IN_MEMORY_COMPACTION)) # From HBaseConstants
+    assert(!foo.class.const_defined?(:QUOTA_TABLE_NAME)) # From HBaseQuotasConstants
+
+    @shell.export_all(foo)
+
+    # Now verify that all the commands, variables, and constants are installed
+    assert(foo.respond_to?(:version))
+    assert(foo.instance_variable_get(:'@shell') == @shell)
+    assert(foo.instance_variable_get(:'@hbase') == @hbase)
+    assert(foo.class.const_defined?(:IN_MEMORY_COMPACTION)) # From HBaseConstants
+    assert(foo.class.const_defined?(:QUOTA_TABLE_NAME)) # From HBaseQuotasConstants
+
+    # commands should not exist on the class of target
+    assert_raise(NameError) do
+      FooC.method :version
+    end
+    assert_raise(NameError) do
+      FooC.instance_method :version
+    end
+  end
+
+  #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
   define_test "Shell::Shell#command_instance should return a command class" do
     assert_kind_of(Shell::Commands::Command, @shell.command_instance('version'))
   end
@@ -73,6 +113,24 @@ module Foo; end
 
   #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+  define_test 'Shell::Shell#eval_io should evaluate IO' do
+    # check that at least one of the commands is present while evaluating
+    io = StringIO.new <<~EOF
+      puts (respond_to? :list)
+    EOF
+    output = capture_stdout { @shell.eval_io(io) }
+    assert_match(/true/, output)
+
+    # check that at least one of the HBase constants is present while evaluating
+    io = StringIO.new <<~EOF
+      ROWPREFIXFILTER
+    EOF
+    output = capture_stdout { @shell.eval_io(io) }
+    assert_match(/"ROWPREFIXFILTER"/, output)
+  end
+
+  #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
   define_test 'Shell::Shell#print_banner should display Reference Guide link' do
     @shell.interactive = true
     output = capture_stdout { @shell.print_banner }
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/test_helper.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/test_helper.rb
index 78fba7a20635..26b142638f04 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/test_helper.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/test_helper.rb
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def create_test_table_with_splits_file(name, splits_file)
     def create_test_table_with_region_replicas(name, num_of_replicas, splits)
       # Create the table if needed
       unless admin.exists?(name)
-        command(:create, name, 'f1', { REGION_REPLICATION => num_of_replicas },
+        command(:create, name, 'f1', { ::HBaseConstants::REGION_REPLICATION => num_of_replicas },
                 splits)
       end