Bash or zsh. The Zsh shell now works on Windows 10.

Bash or zsh bash_profile config for various command line tools; less common but not unheard of to get a . by adding "commandline": "C:/Program Files/Git/bin/bash. Zsh is a powerful shell that operates as both an interactive shell and as a scripting language interpreter. Let’s dive in! What Is a Shell? A shell is more Discover how to easily determine if you're using bash or zsh. And set rvmrc There's some edge cases, e. It offers the same features as bash but adds more on top. I have tried this code: sudo chsh -s $(which zsh) I've also tried: sudo chsh -s /bin/zsh Also tried these co 🙃 A delightful community-driven (with 2,400+ contributors) framework for managing your zsh configuration. Tcsh was once (up to the early 1990s) the shell with the best interactive features, like its predecessor csh. zshrc and such). Suppose a script that if the user is using zsh, then put PATH to his . In zsh you have syntax highlighting, history-based autosuggestions, and quite a lot of customizability. Bash versus zsh. This guide simplifies the process with quick tips and clear examples. This guide simplifies the transition while spotlighting zsh's powerful features. It covers an overview of both shells, the steps for setting them up, The Z shell (Zsh) is a Unix shell that can be used as an interactive login shell and as a command interpreter for shell scripting. May 5, 2025 · Master Linux shell customization 2025 with Bash, Zsh, and Fish. In this article, we'll attempt to draw the line between the two shells and show the differences so you can get a sense of why you might use Explore the nuances of zsh vs bash in this comprehensive guide. Tagged with windows, productivity, tutorial, development. Bash While bash is the most widely available shell across Unix-like systems, zsh offers more modern features for interactive use. ) The only reason why I'm doing it, is that after I spent some time in zsh, I start thinking - well, you can't hack out the bash completely from the system, so why would I keep in my system two programs for the same purpose - so I'm deleting zsh, and going back to bash. bash* configs directly. But almost every command in bash works in zsh the same way. By comparing the Jul 8, 2024 · When we talk about UNIX based programming, it's usually about the shells, terminals, and the command line interfaces. But two popular alternatives, ZSH and Fish, offer more advanced features and customization. The most prevalent shell in this regard is Bash but there are other variants available and used widely as well, like Zsh or the Z shell. Apr 29, 2024 · In this article, you will get a comparative analysis of bash vs zsh shell, enabling you to choose between these shells. Mar 18, 2011 · Check for $BASH_VERSION, $ZSH_VERSION, and other shell-specific variables. Main differences for scripting (and for power users on the command line of course) Mar 3, 2017 · One of the most popular newer shells is Z shell, or "zsh". Cue the collective sighs and confusion. Aug 29, 2023 · Apple now uses Zsh as the default shell on macOS, but the old Bash shell is still included and easily switchable. You need to run zsh instead. zshrc and if using bash should put in . I have tried to change it into ZSH by command chsh -s /bin/zsh. Sep 18, 2023 · Explore key differences & head to head comparison (infographics) between Zsh & Bash. Can I use both bash and zsh? Zsh’s syntax is not completely compatible with bash, but it’s close. This guide explores their pros and cons to help you determine which is best to use. I just love how zsh look, the ability to theme it, and the community surrounding it. Bash shell is a creation of Brian Fox, and it came out in 1989. However, ZSH offers more flexibility and customization options. Mar 29, 2025 · In this comprehensive 2025 Linux shell comparison, we’ll break down the 7 key differences between Bash, Zsh, and Fish, covering areas like scripting power, plugin ecosystems, performance, user experience, customization, community support, and ease of use. You should become familiar with Bash, and read through a cheat sheet or two so that you have a general awareness of its capabilities. Zsh doesn't treat # as a comment start on the command line by default, only in scripts (including . Jan 11, 2025 · Both Bash and Zsh are Unix shells designed to make these interactions efficient and intuitive. Nushell does look interesting and cool. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the history, pros and cons, and key features of Bash, Zsh, and Fish shells. Users direct the operation of the computer by entering commands as a text for a command line interpreter 3 days ago · The more appropriate comparison would be between zsh and bash (both shells), or between Oh My Zsh and other frameworks for bash like bash-it. Zsh even has limited support for set operations. For example, zsh has spell-checking, the ability to watch for logins/logouts, some built-in programming features like bytecode, support for scientific notation in syntax, allows for floating-point arithmetic, and zsh is far superior to bash in several ways. Jan 7, 2024 · I have become so accustomed to ZSH over the years on Apple and using oh-my-zsh that all my shortcuts and quick ways to doing things just weren’t there. Zsh in itself is also a compelling scripting language. See 4. Nov 30, 2021 · 272 you can try chsh -s /bin/bash to set the bash as the default, or chsh -s /bin/zsh to set the zsh as the default. Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac The default shell is zsh. May 21, 2025 · Bash strictly adheres to POSIX standards, which ensures broad compatibility across Unix-like systems. I am a Bash user looking into switching to Fish (or Zsh). In this post, we’ll dive into the pros and cons of Bash In the world of Linux, the command - line interface (CLI) is a powerful tool that allows users to interact directly with the operating system. And Bash is great – it gets the job done on basic terminal tasks. Zsh was released in 1990 by Paul Falstad, and it has some features that Bash, Korn Shell, and C Shell share. That made it popular for interactive use (but not for scripting). This difference matters when you‘re writing scripts that need to run on multiple systems: # This works in both Bash and Zsh May 12, 2025 · Disadvantages of Fish: Non-POSIX-compliant: Unlike Bash and Zsh, Fish is not POSIX-compliant, which means that scripts written for Bash or other POSIX-compliant shells may not run correctly in Fish without modification. Zsh was created by Paul Falstad in 1990 while he was a student at Princeton University. Includes 300+ optional plugins (rails, git, macOS, hub, docker, homebrew, node, php, python, etc), 140+ themes to spice up your morning, and an auto-update tool that makes it easy to keep up with the latest updates from the community. Apr 11, 2025 · Learn the key differences between Zsh and Bash—two powerful Unix shells. In this comprehensive 2500+ word guide, we’ll explore everything you need to […] Nov 18, 2025 · Introduction to Bash and Zsh Bash (Bourne Again Shell) and Zsh (Z Shell) are two powerful Unix command-line interpreters used by advanced users to manage systems and automate tasks. See also What zsh features do you use?, What features are in zsh and missing from Bash, or vice versa?, What are the practical differences between Bash and Zsh?. But here’s the deal—if you’re doing any real terminal work on macOS, it’s worth knowing why that switch happened and whether you should care. Zsh shell command languages, explore their differences, and see how to use both successfully. Helps system administrators and power-users rapidly automate tasks that manage operating systems (Linux, macOS, and Windows) and processes. NET. g. It makes scripting in Zsh oh so much nicer. sh" to my Windows Terminal settings. I want to share which one I chose and how I went about setting it up. Pros and cons of two famous shells on linux For Arch Linux users, the choice of shell can influence productivity, efficiency, and even the learning curve of day-to-day tasks. The Zsh FAQ offers more reasons to use Zsh. To change your default shell from Zsh to Bash, simply run the "chsh -s /bin/bash" command in Terminal and reopen it. I use a . Mar 13, 2022 · A detailed guide to find out which shell you're using, and how to switch from one shell to another, such as from bash to zsh. May 15, 2024 · In this guide, we will walk you through the installation and configuration of ZSH and Oh My ZSH on Windows. Apr 11, 2022 · PowerShell is simply different, based on a fundamentally more complex set of paradigms than the authors of bash or zsh could have imagined at the time those projects began. There are also a number of other features to make typing commands and referencing locations on your Mac easier. bashrc. Viola! I get to enjoy the speed of running git bash within VS Code and use zsh on Windows bash, ksh, tcsh, and zsh will also perform variable expansion on anything that starts with a dollar sign and looks like a variable before each display of the prompt. Feb 21, 2024 · Zsh has become so popular lately that Apple made it the default choice on macOS. It has specific differences in terms of scripting from Bash, but that doesn’t pose a problem. A key reason many programmers switch is all the different Aug 21, 2024 · Bash remains highly capable and is the most widely used and supported shell across Unix-like systems, with a vast ecosystem of scripts and tools built around it. Distros have zsh in their repos. Limited Compatibility: Because Fish is a newer shell, it has a smaller community and fewer resources than Bash and Zsh. Learn "shell", prefer bash Make sure you install a modern version of bash Make sure when you put a #! xxx shebang at the start of a script it references the shell you are actually targeting (so sh for posix, bash for bash, zsh for zsh) Don't configure your system to use bash as a default shell, learn to live with and understand differences. I've a question on how to tell which shell the user is using. The three main ones out there are Bash, Zsh, and Fish. There are some exceptions of course. Definition of shell from Wikipedia: A Unix shell is a command-line interpreter or shell that provides a traditional user interface for the Unix operating system and for Unix-like systems. This guide compares Zsh vs Bash, helping to make an informed choice. Learn how to boost productivity using themes, plugins, and cross-platform workflows. Bash is known for its simplicity, POSIX compliance, and widespread availability across Linux distributions Nov 14, 2023 · Improve your Bash & zsh Shell skills with the handy shortcuts featured in this convenient cheat sheet! Bash and PowerShell are both shells, but of the two, PowerShell is vastly, vastly, vastly more powerful as a tool. Spelling correction It’s easy to have typos while working exclusively on the shell. DT mentioned that he uses all three, I'm wondering how a workflow using three shells would be like and what each shell would be used for? Dec 12, 2024 · Why ZSH Over Bash Most operating systems like MacOS default to using Bash as the command line shell. Bash (Bourne Again Shell) and Zsh (Z Shell) are two of the most popular shells, each with distinct features, advantages, and potential drawbacks. While both the shells are perfect for regular use, when you want to move into more specific use cases, both the shells perform differently because of the default features. - Installing ZSH · ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh Wiki Jul 13, 2019 · I'm looking to switch from bash to zsh but concerned about compatibility of bash scripts. Now I use zsh for interactive shells and bash for scripts because it is more widely available. Dec 27, 2023 · Have you ever wondered what exactly sets the Zsh and Bash scripting languages apart on Linux and macOS systems? As someone who regularly works on the command line, understanding the core distinctions will enable you to choose the right tool for your needs. The features that default Zsh has over default Bash are aimed to make the shell more interactive, making it much more accessible and usable for users of all experience levels. Sep 16, 2024 · Learn how to create and run 'Bash' and 'Zsh' scripts on Linux and macOS to automate tasks, enhance productivity, and streamline workflows with detailed examples. Zsh (Z shell) - An interactive login shell, command interpreter and scripting language. homebrew specifically insists on bash for their installer as it doesn't work on zsh, which they have to very clearly point out as zsh is the default shell on their primary target platform. Let’s check the individual features now. Oct 23, 2023 · Bash and Zsh share a similar command line syntax. Discover their unique features, customization options, scripting capabilities, and user preferences. To enable interactive comments, run setopt interactive_comments. Sep 12, 2016 · Bash is the most popular. This is great because it means most commands and scripts you write will work in either shell, without modification. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the key differences between ZSH and Fish shell. At Jun 20, 2025 · A quick guide to understanding the key differences between Bash, SH, and ZSH and when to use each one for scripting or daily terminal use. Sep 29, 2023 · Explore the differences between Zsh and Bash, two powerful command-line shells. Zsh offers some advanced functionality Dec 28, 2022 · What is Bash? Bash (short for “Bourne-again shell”) is a Unix shell developed by Brian Fox in 1989. Now when I am trying to check the shell type, I am getting different responses. Zsh seems to be much more customizable than bash. As you probably know, Bash is the default shell included on most Linux distributions. Dec 13, 2022 · Zsh is an extension of the Bourne shell with a lot of improvements. com Mar 12, 2024 · Here in this article, we are going to differentiate between the two most popular shells bash and zsh. json. But be warned - shells are stupid, they are not as smart as programming languages. Understanding how shells work sets the foundation for comparing Zsh vs Bash effectively. It‘s been around for decades and is stable and widely portable. This article dives into the differences between Bash and Zsh, comparing their features, scripting capabilities, performance, and customization options to help users choose the right shell for their needs in 2025. Of the standard shells, zsh most closely resembles ksh but includes many enhancements. Source: stackoverflow Mar 2, 2016 · This tutorial will guide you through steps to install Zsh on Linux and Configure it to suit your needs. bash, ksh, and zsh will also perform command substitution before each display of the prompt when they encounter the $ ( ) syntax in the prompt. I did attempt to use oh-my-bash but there just aren’t the number of plugins already to support the plethora of plugins I need and use on a regular basis. It was designed as a free and open-source alternative to the proprietary Bourne shell, and it has since become the default shell on many Unix-like systems, including Linux and macOS. The default Bash shell is a powerful option. Technical Comparison: Zsh vs. Each shell has its own set of features, advantages, and use - cases. zshrc file based on Kali Linux's amazing zsh, plus some of my tweaks. A coworker of mine uses fish instead and he's frequently grumbling over lack of fish support for this or that tool. May 20, 2025 · zsh Zsh is a UNIX command interpreter (shell) usable as an interactive login shell and as a shell script command processor. sh script into my user directory #!/bin/bash bash -c zsh Execute switch-to-zsh. Check $SHELL; this is a last resort, as it specifies your default shell and not necessarily the current shell. In this blog, we’ll explore the key features of Zsh and Bash, helping you decide which one suits your workflow best. Dec 27, 2023 · For experienced Linux users, choosing the right shell is an important decision. This tutorial will help you for switching between Zsh and Bash on macOS systems. May 5, 2012 · I am trying to set ZSH as my default shell, however it keeps reverting back to bash. zshrc config, plus zsh offers a bash-compatibility mode that can read . Basic Features of Bash and Zsh May 2, 2022 · Zsh was designed with better user interaction in mind. See full list on howtogeek. COMMAND-1 input When writing shell scripts I don't ever program in either bash or zsh - I program using sh (/bin/sh), because it's the lowest common denominator and the least likely to have compatibility issues. ZSH vs Bash: Why many switch from Bash to ZSH The Bash shell is arguably the default shell for most UNIX operating systems; it is a user-friendly, robust technology that is standard on Linux distros such as Ubuntu or Arch. While being compatible with the POSIX sh (not by default, only if issuing emulate sh), it offers advantages such as improved tab completion and globbing. (Maybe Zsh or Fish, also. It combines features from both ksh and tcsh, offering functionality such Also, it's common to provide a . This means that most of your Bash scripts and command history should work in Zsh. Windows has a compatibility layer for running Linux software on Windows, and you can use it to run Zsh or whatever shell you prefer. Aug 19, 2020 · I can only speak for the ubuntu version but the default shell is bash regardless of how you start it. May 12, 2025 · While there are various shell options available, Bash, Zsh, and Fish stand out as the most popular choices, each offering a unique set of features, making it crucial to understand their differences in order to select the right one for your needs. May 6, 2020 · When I set up my Windows computer, I had the chance to take another look at the shell I'm using. Like zsh, bash includes several advanced features and capabilities, such as command line editing Mar 23, 2023 · Shell Comparison: Analyzing the Pros and Cons of Bash, Zsh, Fish, and Tcsh Helping you decide which shell to use！ Before we begin comparing various shells, if you’re not sure what a shell is Nov 30, 2022 · Zsh vs Bash Let’s now look at the comparison between ZSH vs BASH for your command-line. Understanding the differences between them can help you choose the one that best Nov 6, 2021 · But before I could do that, I had to install Zsh and oh-my-zsh on it. But Zsh has been gaining popularity over the last several years as an alternative shell. Discover which is better for scripting, performance, customization, and productivity in your terminal workflow. You should check it out if you want to switch full time. However, you can switch to bash from zsh, if you prefer. im familiar that they operate pretty similarly, but just wondering if anybody has experience out there with zsh on their linux build. However, Zsh is considered to be more powerful and feature-rich than Bash, with advanced features like advanced tab completion, spelling correction, and theme customization. Although Windows comes with its own command prompt, many developers Bash and Zsh are both popular Unix shell programs that offer similar functionalities, such as command line editing, scripting capabilities, and job control. Zsh, while mostly compatible with Bash, prioritizes features and user experience over strict POSIX compliance. I saw zsh working on all Linuxes, FreeBSD and OpenSolaris. So, I started with zsh, and here is how you can install it too. Oh My Zsh also works for Apr 3, 2023 · Zsh, or the Z Shell, is an extended version of the Bourne Shell that incorporates features from Bash, KornShell, and tcsh. Apr 25, 2025 · Starting with macOS Catalina, Apple ditched Bash as the default shell and gave Zsh the crown. Created by Paul Falstad in 1990, zsh is a Bourne-style shell that contains the features you'll find in bash, plus even more. Feb 28, 2015 · For me, I have zsh installed and it's the current default, to change to bash, all I have to do type bash in the terminal. Mar 26, 2024 · Zsh is the default login and interactive shell on Mac. This is done by injecting arguments and/or environment variables when the shell session launches. Zsh is designed to be a highly customizable shell with an interactive command-line interface for executing commands, running shell scripts, and performing various system administration tasks. But what is Zsh, and what is Bash? Both are powerful Unix shells with unique capabilities, making them popular among developers. You can have Bash automatically execute Zsh whenever you launch it. Two of the most popular shells for Linux are the Bourne - Again SHell (Bash) and the Z Shell (Zsh). The Zsh shell now works on Windows 10. You can change the shell that new Terminal windows and tabs open with. To switch back to zsh, type zsh Jun 25, 2019 · Recently, Apple announced that as of the next version of macOS, Catalina, they will be adopting zsh as their default shell in replacement of bash. Jan 10, 2025 · When it comes to command-line interfaces, the debate between Zsh vs Bash often takes center stage. As a budding data science student, having learned Apr 26, 2025 · The latest macOS systems comes with Z Shell (Zsh) as default shell, but who still preferred to use bash can still use it by switching the default shell. One day I will take a look at closely and see if I should Jun 23, 2015 · I have Ubuntu on my machine and I am running awesome window manager on top of it. I switched to using Zsh over half a decade ago and haven’t used Bash or any other shell ever. Image Source Key points about Zsh Comes with autocompletion when using the terminal. Discover seamless ways to switch from bash to zsh and enhance your command line experience. Both shells allow users to run commands, write scripts, and interact with the operating system efficiently. Once configured, ZSH supercharges your terminal with handy features for developers and power users. Alternatively, you can change the default shell graphically in System Settings under Users & Groups by Ctrl-Clicking your profile picture and selecting "Advanced Apr 26, 2025 · Zsh is largely compatible with Bash as it was designed to incorporate many of the features and commands that Bash users are familiar with. I loved it. In fact, pwsh couldn’t exist in its current state without standing on the shoulders of giants like bash and zsh, so respect, here, is absolutely DUE. Feb 15, 2023 · Why is zsh now the macOS default shell? Zsh is an extension of bash. However, some zsh-isms may not work when running bash scripts. How do I check which terminal I am running? Is there a command for it? just curious to see if anyone here uses zsh as their default shell? If so, how has your experience been with it? Do you prefer bash or zsh? ive been using zsh on my Macbook due to apple making it the default terminal shell. Terminal will need a restart to take effect. Zsh has much, much better support for arrays in syntax and functions that can use arrays. While Bash emphasizes reliability and simplicity, Zsh adds modern enhancements like auto-suggestions and plugin support, offering a more versatile experience. Bash, or the Bourne-Again Shell, is by far the most popularly used shell and it comes installed as the default shell in the most popular Linux distributions. However, there are other popular shells to choose from with different features and advantages, such as the Z SHell (Zsh) and Friendly Interactive SHell (Fish). Dec 25, 2024 · Explore different types of Linux shells like Bash, Zsh, and Fish, and learn their key features and differences. Supported shells: Linux/macOS: bash, fish, pwsh, zsh Windows: Git Bash, pwsh Installation Automatic script injection By default, the shell integration script should automatically activate on supported shells launched from VS Code. Jan 13, 2021 · Bash and Zsh are two popular Linux shells. Jul 20, 2025 · Enhance your Linux terminal with Zsh and Oh My Zsh! Learn to install, configure, and customize on Debian/Ubuntu with popular themes and plugins. Mar 19, 2025 · Compare the Bash vs. Bash is the default login shell for most Linux distributions. Main reason being out of the box with minimal configuration it has all the features and ui experience I want compared to when I used zsh before it and had to add many plugins with their own package managers to achieve at the expense of speed. It comes with dash, rbash, and bash installed but no zsh or powershell. Are all bash scripts/functions compatible with zsh? Therefore, if that is true is zsh just an enhancement Hello. Zsh doesn't resort to Bash's IFS to make arrays or make strings from arrays, you just split and join like you would in a "real" programming language. AFAIK, every shell handles it the same way. Oh My Zsh is a popular open-source Zsh configuration framework loved by developers worldwide. You can look them up, but zsh supports several features that I wouldn't want to lose, and with ohmyzsh and starship it becomes almost unbeatable. Oct 28, 2023 · Why Compare Bash and Zsh? Before we dive in, let‘s briefly go over why you‘d even want to compare Bash and Zsh. exe --login switch-to-zsh. My director uses fish as his shell, but I find it to be way too opinionated and it tends to break certain scripts unless specifically written for fish (or just invoking the script with bash or zsh but if Dec 16, 2024 · The most common default shell on most Linux distributions is the Bourne Again SHell (Bash). Bash vs. The difference is using arrays for very basic operations with a Dec 27, 2023 · Zsh includes all bash features plus additional plugins, themes, alias management, regex path matching etc. A lot of code will keep working, for example typical aliases and functions. macOS by default uses the Zsh Shell. Mar 15, 2023 · Git Bash and ZSH are command-line interfaces that allow users to interact with their operating system using text commands. Zsh is an extended Bourne shell with many improvements, including some features of Bash, ksh, and tcsh. It still has bash installed (a fairly old version due to licensing) and existing accounts keep their perfered shell as bash but ya it is installed by default and new users have zsh as their perfered shell. PowerShell - A command-line shell and scripting language built on . Add a switch-to-zsh. Oct 10, 2021 · The commands you learned for bash will also work in zsh although they may function differently on output. Uncover features, strengths, and tips to master your command line experience. Nov 16, 2021 · Error: Oh My Zsh can't be loaded from: sh. It includes 300+ plugins, themes, and tweaks to supercharge your terminal experience. By the end, you’ll see why Fish provides […] Default shell in my mac was bash. Zsh has command-line editing, built-in spelling correction, programmable command completion, shell functions (with autoloading), a history mechanism, and a host of other features . Mar 24, 2024 · I have been loyal to fish shell for last few years. Nov 26, 2024 · While Zsh is not completely compatible with Bash, it shares some similar functionalities and features with Bash. sh only with Windows Terminal. Mar 8, 2018 · Ubuntu and the other Linux distributions available on Windows 10 use the Bash shell by default, but that's not your only option. These include support for themes and plug-ins as well as cut completion and autocorrection for directory paths. Zsh How can I definitively determine if the currently running shell is bash or zsh? (being able to disambiguate between additional shells is a bonus, but only bash & zsh are 100% necessary) I've Jun 8, 2019 · Many of bash's shopt settings have a corresponding setopt in zsh. Learn which shell aligns with your command-line needs in this comprehensive comparison. It’s a popular choice for developers who seek a more customizable and Jan 29, 2020 · Zsh vs Bash: Origins The first Unix operating system came into existence in 1971, but the Bourne shell (the first version of Bash) came into existence only in 1979, with the Unix version 7. cklunws vjratwft zdyqfa jngad kqwxbw dgwl nthsphm okv gxtvf pjuuhdg onv mois zrnilj nqzrh auf