Z Shell is a Unix shell that is used to manage your computer’s tasks. It is a very versatile shell and can be used to run many different commands. You can also use it to access the internet, create files, and more. To install Z Shell on Ubuntu 14.04, you will need to first install the package. This package will provide you with the zshell command line tool and its dependencies. Once you have installed the package, you can start using Z Shell by running the following command: sudo apt-get install zshell Once Z Shell has been installed, you can start using it by running the following command: zshell
Listed here are some of its often touted features.
Auto-completion Auto-correction Scripting capabilities Extensibility with modules Improved globbing Improved array handling
1 – Installation
Update the apt-get package manager’s database.
1 – Installation2 – zsh-newuser-install3 – Configuration Files Layout4 – . zshrc Configuration FileAlternative Method via oh-my-zsh
[alert-announce]
$ sudo apt-get update
[/alert-announce]
Install zsh through the apt-get package manager.
[alert-announce]
$ sudo apt-get install zsh
[/alert-announce]
2 – zsh-newuser-install
Run Z Shell for the first time to begin the new user config.
[alert-announce]
$ zsh
[/alert-announce]
If it doesn’t run or drop into the config then you can use:
[alert-announce]
$ zsh /usr/share/zsh/functions/Newuser/zsh-newuser-install -f
[/alert-announce]
Which will invoke the new user config manually.
Work through the new prompt screen as directed, typing 0 remembers an edit but does not save it until it is entered again on the root prompt screen.
[alert-announce]
(1) Configure settings for history, i. e. command lines remembered and saved by the shell. (Recommended)
[/alert-announce]
On the first option 0 will suffice and keeps the default settings.
[alert-announce]
(2) Configure the new completion system. (Recommended. )
[/alert-announce]
On the second option pressing 1 and turning on completion with default options is enough.
[alert-announce]
(3) Configure how keys behave when editing command lines. (Recommended. )
[/alert-announce]
With the third option you can set the key’s shell line editor to behave like Emacs or Vi. Set it with 1 and press e for emacs and v for vi.
[alert-announce]
(4) Pick some of the more common shell options. These are simple “on” or “off” switches controlling the shell’s features.
[/alert-announce]
In the fourth option I set 1, 2, and 3 to on, enabling them.
Finally entering 0 at the root menu exits and saves these new settings.
3 – Configuration Files Layout
When Z Shell starts, it sources the following files in this order:
/etc/zsh/zshenv Commands to set the global command search path and other system-wide environment variables; it should not contain commands that produce output.
~/.zshenv For per-user configuration. Generally used for setting some useful environment variables.
/etc/zsh/zprofile This is a global configuration file, usually used for executing some general commands at login. On Arch Linux, by default it contains one line which sources the /etc/profile.
/etc/profile This file should be sourced by all Bourne-compatible shells upon login: it sets up an environment upon login and application-specific settings. Again on Arch Linux, Z Shell will also source this by default.
~/.zprofile This file is generally used for automatic execution of user scripts upon login.
/etc/zsh/zshrc Another global configuration file.
~/.zshrc The main user configuration file, and the one most often customised by users. This file is the one that will be used and changed in the next section.
/etc/zsh/zlogin Another global configuration file.
~/.zlogin Same as the previous file before it, except for individual-user configuration.
/etc/zsh/zlogout A global configuration file, will be sourced when a login shell exits.
~/.zlogout Same as the previous file before it, except for individual-user configuration.
4 – .zshrc Configuration File
The newly created zsh config file contents we just defined can be seen by opening it with a text editor. I’m using vim in this example.
[alert-announce]
$ vim ~/. zshrc
[/alert-announce]
At the end of the config file append the following:
[alert-announce]
autoload -U promptinit compinit promptinit compinit prompt bart
[/alert-announce]
Where bart is the name of the prompt you wish to use in your Z shell. For my example here I chose the bart theme.
To see possible prompts available and installed follow these commands from a Z shell terminal prompt.
[alert-announce]
$ autoload -U promptinit $ promptinit $ prompt p
[/alert-announce]
To apply any changes immediately in the config file you can use:
[alert-announce]
$ source ~/. zshrc
[/alert-announce]
Or exit and invoke a new Z Shell session.
[alert-announce]
$ exit $ zsh
[/alert-announce]
Finally to make Z Shell your Linux user’s default shell on this account enter:
[alert-announce]
$ chsh -s $(which zsh)
[/alert-announce]
Note: Do not include sudo with this previous command as it will alter the root user’s default shell instead.
The $SHELL variable stores your user’s current default shell path. It can be used to confirm the set default shell.
[alert-announce]
$ echo $SHELL
[/alert-announce]
Alternative Method via oh-my-zsh
Instead of a manual setup many people choose to use oh-my-zsh to manage their zsh installations.
It can be acquired most easily by using either curl or wget
[alert-announce]
$ curl -L http://install. ohmyz. sh | sh
[/alert-announce]
Or:
[alert-announce]
$ wget –no-check-certificate http://install. ohmyz. sh -O – | sh
[/alert-announce]
Enable any of the plugins you want in your ~/.zshrc config file by setting them active:
[alert-announce]
~/.zshrc
plugins=(git ruby)
[/alert-announce]
Change the ZSH_THEME environment variable in your ~/.zshrc to enable any of themes included in the package.
[alert-announce]
~/.zshrc
ZSH_THEME=”af-magic”
[/alert-announce]
