What is zsh?

Shell 的类型有很多种，例如 Linux 和 MacOS 下默认的是 Bash。虽然 Bash 的功能已经足够完备，但对于以懒惰为美德的程序员来说，其提示功能不够强大，界面也不够酷（zhuang）炫（bi）。

而 zsh 作为 Shell 的一种，功能极其强大，但因为配置过于复杂，起初只有极客才在用。这时，开源项目 oh-my-zsh 出现了，只需要简单的安装配置，就能用上炫酷好用的 zsh 了。

对我而言，zsh 最好用的地方是语法高亮和命令提示。

1 安装 oh-my-zsh

Step 1. 首先检查系统目前支持的shell

$ cat /etc/shells

如果 zsh 已经存在（MacOS 一般自带 zsh），可以直接跳过安装第二步。

Step 2. 如果没有 zsh，需要自行安装

# on MacOS
$ brew install zsh

# on Linux
$ yum install zsh

Step 3. 安装 oh-my-zsh

$ sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.github.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh/master/tools/install.sh)"

Step 4. 切换到 zsh

$ chsh -s /bin/zsh

2 安装拓展

安装语法高亮和命令提示

# syntax highlighting
$ git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting.git ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-syntax-highlighting

# zsh-autosuggestions
$ git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions

接着，修改 zsh 配置

$ vim ~/.zshrc

plugins=(git zsh-autosuggestions zsh-syntax-highlighting)
echo "export TERM=xterm-256color"  # 使autosuggestions半透明

export HOMEBREW_NO_AUTO_UPDATE=true # no update when use brew

最后，使配置生效！

$ source ~/.zshrc

3 主题推荐时间！

推荐一个炒鸡优雅的主题组合：dracula + ys!

dracula 是一个颜值超高的 iTerm2 主题！ dracula-theme, a dark theme for all the things~

安装方法见官网，很简单不再赘述。

然后是一个好用也好看的 oh-my-zsh 主题: ys!

切换方法非常简单，修改 ~/.zshrc 里面的 ZSH_THEME="ys" 即可。

使用效果展示：

4 简单使用心得！

  1. zsh 的语法高亮，并不是传统基于正则表达式的色彩高亮，而是真的会判断你输入的到底是啥。白色代表普通命令或者程序，红色代表错误命令。

  2. 命令提示功能炒鸡好用！当你输入命令时，会自动进行命令的提示，且随着你动态输入每一个字母不断变化。按CTRL+F 采纳提示内容。

    这个命令提示是基于你的历史命令数据库进行分析的，随着你输入的命令越来越多，提示将会越来越准确和顺手。

  3. 智能补全：连续敲击两次 TAB 键 zsh 给你一个补全目录，可以上下左右选择。

还有很多好用的功能，可以参考一个知乎问题 “为什么说 zsh 是 shell 中的极品？”。

参考

  1. https://wyydsb.xin/other/terminal.html
  2. https://www.zhihu.com/question/21418449/answer/300879747

What is zsh?

There are many types of shells — Linux and macOS both default to Bash. Bash is perfectly capable, but for programmers who consider laziness a virtue, its autocomplete is weak and its look is frankly boring.

zsh is an incredibly powerful shell, but its manual configuration was complex enough that only hardcore geeks bothered with it — until oh-my-zsh came along. With a single install command, you get a polished, feature-rich zsh setup with almost no effort.

For me, the two killer features are syntax highlighting and command autosuggestions.

1 Installing oh-my-zsh

Step 1. Check which shells your system supports:

$ cat /etc/shells

If zsh is already listed (macOS ships with it), skip Step 2.

Step 2. Install zsh if it's missing:

# on macOS
$ brew install zsh

# on Linux
$ yum install zsh

Step 3. Install oh-my-zsh:

$ sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.github.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh/master/tools/install.sh)"

Step 4. Switch your default shell to zsh:

$ chsh -s /bin/zsh

2 Installing Plugins

Install syntax highlighting and autosuggestions:

# syntax highlighting
$ git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting.git ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-syntax-highlighting

# autosuggestions
$ git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions

Edit your zsh config to enable them:

$ vim ~/.zshrc

plugins=(git zsh-autosuggestions zsh-syntax-highlighting)
echo "export TERM=xterm-256color"  # makes autosuggestions semi-transparent

export HOMEBREW_NO_AUTO_UPDATE=true # no update when use brew

Apply the changes:

$ source ~/.zshrc

3 Theme Recommendation

My go-to combination: dracula (iTerm2 color scheme) + ys (oh-my-zsh theme).

dracula-theme is a gorgeous dark theme for iTerm2. Installation is straightforward — check their site.

For the oh-my-zsh theme, switch to ys by setting ZSH_THEME="ys" in ~/.zshrc.

Here's what it looks like:

4 Tips from Daily Use

  1. zsh's syntax highlighting is smarter than regex-based coloring — it actually evaluates your input. White means a valid command, red means an error.

  2. Autosuggestions are incredibly handy. As you type, a ghost suggestion appears and updates with each keystroke. Press Ctrl+F to accept it.

    Suggestions are drawn from your command history, so they get more accurate the more you use the shell.

  3. Smart tab completion: press Tab twice and zsh shows a navigable menu you can move through with arrow keys.

For more features, this Zhihu thread is a good read: “Why is zsh considered the best shell?”

References

  1. https://wyydsb.xin/other/terminal.html
  2. https://www.zhihu.com/question/21418449/answer/300879747