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Daniel McKnight 2025-06-05 18:40:04 -07:00
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--- ---
date: 2025-06-04 date: 2025-06-05
title: zsh and GNU stow title: zsh and GNU stow
tags: tags:
@ -97,19 +97,20 @@ always available so I just include it in my dotfiles repository.
but with some different features that are interesting. It's worth nothing that I fully intend on using `bash` but with some different features that are interesting. It's worth nothing that I fully intend on using `bash`
for scripting since it is far more ubiquitous than `zsh` and I am more familiar with it and its quirks. for scripting since it is far more ubiquitous than `zsh` and I am more familiar with it and its quirks.
I will also note that zsh is NOT a [POSIX shell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POSIX); I will also note that zsh is NOT a [POSIX shell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POSIX);
this is a common complaint that I see. Personally, I think I am okay with this since I this is a common complaint that I see. Personally, I am okay with this since I
haven't run into any issues thus far and `zsh` is good enough to be the default shell in popular haven't run into any issues thus far and `zsh` is good enough to be the default shell in popular
operating systems, including macOS and TrueNAS. operating systems, including macOS and TrueNAS.
There are a couple reasons I decided to try `zsh`, the first being tab completion which There are a couple reasons I decided to try `zsh`, the first being tab completion which
I find helpful when completing a path or command where there are only a couple options to tab through. I find helpful when completing a path or command where there are only a couple options to tab through.
The other reasons I wanted to experiment with `zsh` are a bit more complex. I also wanted to try out some of the plugins and the configuration, which I find much easier to work with,
compared to `bashrc`.
### RC Files ### RC Files
[Run Commands files](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RUNCOM) are basically files that [Run Commands files](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RUNCOM) are basically files that
are executed when a program starts. I are executed when a program starts. I
[previously detailed my .bashrc file](https://blog.mcknight.tech/2024/03/27/Shell-Customizations/#BASH-Configuration), [previously detailed my `.bashrc` file](https://blog.mcknight.tech/2024/03/27/Shell-Customizations/#BASH-Configuration),
which is executed whenever I open a new `bash` shell. which is executed whenever I open a new `bash` shell.
I wanted to experiment with `zsh` configuration because it feels a little more modern I wanted to experiment with `zsh` configuration because it feels a little more modern
and powerful to me compared to `bash`. For example, my `bash` shell prompt looks like: and powerful to me compared to `bash`. For example, my `bash` shell prompt looks like:
@ -178,34 +179,35 @@ function precmd {
PS2="%F$chrome_color└%F{cyan}>%F{white} " PS2="%F$chrome_color└%F{cyan}>%F{white} "
``` ```
I find the `zsh` version to be much more readable and easier to modify since I have a I find the `zsh` version to be much more readable and easier to modify, since I have a
method to generate the prompt instead of a single variable to cram everything into. method to generate the prompt instead of a single variable to cram everything into.
I believe I have these two prompts looking identical in all cases and it only took me I believe I have these two prompts looking identical in all cases and it only took me
about an hour to get my `zshrc` working identically to my `bashrc`; this included about an hour to get my `zshrc` working identically to my `bashrc`; this included
moving some refactoring from `.bashrc` into `.bash_aliases` and `.profile`. I also some refactoring from `.bashrc` into `.bash_aliases` and `.profile`. I also
made sure `.profile` is always sourced in `bash` and `zsh` shells to avoid duplicating made sure `.profile` is always sourced in `bash` and `zsh` shells to avoid duplicating
code in rc files. I considered using a common `aliases` file, but decided against it since code in those rc files. I considered using a common `aliases` file, but decided against it since
I use different aliases for different shells (i.e. `sudosu` is shell-specific). I use different aliases for different shells (i.e. `sudosu` is shell-specific).
### `zsh` Plugins ### `zsh` Plugins
Another interesting feature of `zsh` is that it supports plugins. Another interesting feature of `zsh` is that it supports plugins.
Now just like with Neovim, there are a number of different plugin managers that can be Now, just like with Neovim, there are a number of different plugin managers that can be
used with `zsh`. I don't know if there is a "best" choice, but after some light reading used with `zsh`. I don't know if there is a "best" choice, but after some light reading
on the popular options I could fine and some [LLM summary comparisons](https://search.brave.com/search?q=zinit+vs+omz&source=desktop&summary=1&conversation=f5495011020a89faf13bf1), up on the popular options I could find and some [LLM summary comparisons](https://search.brave.com/search?q=zinit+vs+omz&source=desktop&summary=1&conversation=f5495011020a89faf13bf1),
I settled on [Zinit](https://github.com/zdharma-continuum/zinit) as a lightweight and I settled on [Zinit](https://github.com/zdharma-continuum/zinit) as a lightweight and
apparently maintained option. apparently maintained option.
#### OMZ extract #### OMZ extract
This convenience command lets me extract files without having to remember the syntax for This convenience command lets me extract files without having to remember the syntax for
extracting `.tar.xz`, `.zip`, `.tar.gz`, etc. A simple `extract <file>` extracting `.tar.xz`, `.zip`, `.tar.gz`, etc. A simple `extract <file>` is much easier
to remember than the specific commands for each compression algorithm.
#### OMZ colored-man-pages #### OMZ colored-man-pages
This adds some color to man pages which I think makes it a little easier to skim to find This adds some color to man pages which I think makes it a little easier to skim to find
CLI args and section headers. Its not the *best* IMO, but something is better than nothing CLI args and section headers. Its not the *best* IMO, but something is better than nothing
here when trying to skim through what can be pretty dense documentation. when trying to skim through what can be pretty dense documentation.
#### OMZ encode64 #### OMZ encode64
@ -224,11 +226,12 @@ less commonly used flags.
The Oh My Zsh sudo plugin adds a convenience keybind (`esc`+`esc`) to prepend `sudo` to The Oh My Zsh sudo plugin adds a convenience keybind (`esc`+`esc`) to prepend `sudo` to
the current command or the previous command if the input is empty. I find this to be the current command or the previous command if the input is empty. I find this to be
convenient as it is fairly common to re-run the previous command with elevated privileges convenient as it is fairly common to re-run the previous command with elevated privileges
or to prepend `sudo` if I forgot to start with that. or to prepend `sudo` if I forgot to start with that (saving 5 keystrokes compared to
`sudo !!`)
#### zsh-autosuggestions #### zsh-autosuggestions
This plugin works much like suggestions in an IDE, providing a suggested command completion This plugin feels much like suggestions in an IDE, providing a suggested command completion
that can be filled in with a bound key (I am using `Shift`+`Tab`). that can be filled in with a bound key (I am using `Shift`+`Tab`).
I find this mapping more convenient than the default `->`, since I can reach it without I find this mapping more convenient than the default `->`, since I can reach it without
moving my fingers from the home row and it is easy to remember `tab` and `shift`+`tab` moving my fingers from the home row and it is easy to remember `tab` and `shift`+`tab`
@ -242,7 +245,7 @@ helps to identify un-escaped characters in a quoted string.
### `.zshrc` ### `.zshrc`
Now that I've explained it in parts, here's my `.zshrc` file in its entirety: Now that I've explained the components, here's my `.zshrc` file in its entirety:
``` ```
# Lines configured by zsh-newuser-install # Lines configured by zsh-newuser-install
@ -379,6 +382,8 @@ server and applying my `.bashrc` without making permanent changes to the remote
not apply to connections that use a `RemoteCommand` in the SSH config, which is intentional; I have not apply to connections that use a `RemoteCommand` in the SSH config, which is intentional; I have
remotes that run a `tmux` session for remote connections and I wouldn't want to mess with shell remotes that run a `tmux` session for remote connections and I wouldn't want to mess with shell
configurations when multiple connections will be attaching the same `tmux` session. configurations when multiple connections will be attaching the same `tmux` session.
This also highlights that I still do use `bash` for most of my remote connections, since `bash`
is available by default on every Linux distribution I've come across and `zsh` is far less ubiquitous.
### Conclusion ### Conclusion
@ -392,10 +397,10 @@ more pleasant shell experience with extra text highlighting and shortkeys.
I have no immediate plans for what to work on next, though I I have no immediate plans for what to work on next, though I
[still have some ideas](https://blog.mcknight.tech/2025/05/21/nvim/#What-to-do-next). I may continue my search for a good [still have some ideas](https://blog.mcknight.tech/2025/05/21/nvim/#What-to-do-next). I may continue my search for a good
visual file manager in the terminal, or try out Pop!_OS for its window tiling features, visual file manager in the terminal, or try out Pop!_OS for its window tiling features,
although I might wait for their [Cosmic DE](https://system76.com/cosmic/) to graduate to although I'll likely wait for their [Cosmic DE](https://system76.com/cosmic/) to graduate to
beta and try that. beta and try that.
I also still have some [IDE exploration to do](https://blog.mcknight.tech/2025/05/18/Code-Server/#Future-Plans). I also still have some [IDE exploration to do](https://blog.mcknight.tech/2025/05/18/Code-Server/#Future-Plans).
As I spend more time using `nvim`, I am starting to use it more for coding tasks and it may become my primary "IDE". As I spend more time using `nvim`, I am starting to use it more for coding tasks and it may become my primary "IDE".
In any case, I am actively messing with my `nvim` configuration, so I probably have enough thoughts for another post In any case, I am actively adding to my `nvim` configuration, so I probably have enough thoughts for another post
about that. about that.