Zsh
Zsh is a UNIX command line interpreter and scripting language that is compatible with bash but includes many additional features and customization options. It offers powerful tab completion, spelling correction, better globbing, theming, and plugin support.
commandline
shell
scripting
unix
zsh
Zsh: UNIX Command Line Interpreter and Scripting Language
Zsh is a UNIX command line interpreter and scripting language that is compatible with bash but includes many additional features and customization options.
What is Zsh?
Zsh (Z shell) is an extended version of the Bash shell for UNIX systems. It is highly customizable and includes many features aimed at interactive use, such as:
- Powerful themed auto-suggestions, completion, and correction while typing commands
- Support for directories and path expansion (globbing) with complex patterns
- Sharing of command history across shells
- Loadable modules/plugins to add extra functionality
- Networking and remote connections made easy with zftp/znc/etc.
- Syntax highlighting for commands as you type
- Customizable prompts with version control status info
- Spelling correction and approximate suggestions for mistyped commands
- Smarter tab completion that learns from your history
Zsh is highly recommended for users spending a lot of time working on the UNIX command line. It can make common tasks more convenient and faster to perform once configured. The learning curve is steeper than simpler shells like Bash, but well worth it for power users.
Zsh Features
Features
- Powerful tab completion and spelling correction
- Advanced globbing syntax for pattern matching filenames
- Customizable prompts with color and Git status information
- Plugin architecture to extend functionality
- Shared command history across sessions
- Syntax highlighting for commands
Pricing
- Open Source
- Free
Pros
More interactive and customizable than bash
Faster and more advanced tab completion
Better default configuration out of the box
Good for power users and automation
Large plugin ecosystem for added functionality
Cons
Less POSIX compliant than bash in some cases
Startup can be slower than bash
Less widely available than bash by default
Official Links
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