This guide explains how to install, configure, and switch to Zsh as your default shell for an enhanced terminal experience. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Check Available Shells

To see which shells are available on your system, run the following command:

cat /etc/shells

This will output a list of available shells on your system. Look for zsh in the list. If it's not listed, you’ll need to install it.

Step 2: Install Zsh

Now, let's install zsh. Below are the commands for different systems:

For Ubuntu/Debian-based systems:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install zsh

For Fedora:

sudo dnf install zsh

For CentOS/RHEL:

sudo yum install zsh

Step 3: Verify Zsh Installation

Once installed, check the version of Zsh to ensure it's installed:

zsh --version

You should see something like this:

zsh 5.x.x (x86_64-ubuntu-linux)

Step 4: Set Zsh as the Default Shell

After installation, you can set Zsh as your default shell by running:

chsh -s $(which zsh)

This command sets Zsh as the default shell for your user. You’ll need to log out and log back in for the change to take effect. You can verify the default shell by running:

echo $SHELL

This should return something like:

/bin/zsh

Step 5: Handling `.zshrc` File

When you first install Zsh, it may not create a .zshrc file automatically. This file is essential because it stores configurations and settings for your Zsh environment.

To create a blank .zshrc file, follow these steps:

Create a .zshrc File: Open a terminal and use a text editor to create the .zshrc file in your home directory:
```
vim  ~/.zshrc
```

Open .zshrc and Place all This Containt: You can now open the file with your preferred text editor. and paste it on .zshrc

 # ~/.zshrc file for zsh interactive shells.
 # see /usr/share/doc/zsh/examples/zshrc for examples
 
 setopt autocd              # change directory just by typing its name
 #setopt correct            # auto correct mistakes
 setopt interactivecomments # allow comments in interactive mode
 setopt magicequalsubst     # enable filename expansion for arguments of the form ‘anything=expression’
 setopt nonomatch           # hide error message if there is no match for the pattern
 setopt notify              # report the status of background jobs immediately
 setopt numericglobsort     # sort filenames numerically when it makes sense
 setopt promptsubst         # enable command substitution in prompt
 
 WORDCHARS=${WORDCHARS//\/} # Don't consider certain characters part of the word
 
 # hide EOL sign ('%')
 PROMPT_EOL_MARK=""
 
 # configure key keybindings
 bindkey -e                                        # emacs key bindings
 bindkey ' ' magic-space                           # do history expansion on space
 bindkey '^U' backward-kill-line                   # ctrl + U
 bindkey '^[[3;5~' kill-word                       # ctrl + Supr
 bindkey '^[[3~' delete-char                       # delete
 bindkey '^[[1;5C' forward-word                    # ctrl + ->
 bindkey '^[[1;5D' backward-word                   # ctrl + <-
 bindkey '^[[5~' beginning-of-buffer-or-history    # page up
 bindkey '^[[6~' end-of-buffer-or-history          # page down
 bindkey '^[[H' beginning-of-line                  # home
 bindkey '^[[F' end-of-line                        # end
 bindkey '^[[Z' undo                               # shift + tab undo last action
 
 # enable completion features
 autoload -Uz compinit
 compinit -d ~/.cache/zcompdump
 zstyle ':completion:*:*:*:*:*' menu select
 zstyle ':completion:*' auto-description 'specify: %d'
 zstyle ':completion:*' completer _expand _complete
 zstyle ':completion:*' format 'Completing %d'
 zstyle ':completion:*' group-name ''
 zstyle ':completion:*' list-colors ''
 zstyle ':completion:*' list-prompt %SAt %p: Hit TAB for more, or the character to insert%s
 zstyle ':completion:*' matcher-list 'm:{a-zA-Z}={A-Za-z}'
 zstyle ':completion:*' rehash true
 zstyle ':completion:*' select-prompt %SScrolling active: current selection at %p%s
 zstyle ':completion:*' use-compctl false
 zstyle ':completion:*' verbose true
 zstyle ':completion:*:kill:*' command 'ps -u $USER -o pid,%cpu,tty,cputime,cmd'
 
 # History configurations
 HISTFILE=~/.zsh_history
 HISTSIZE=1000
 SAVEHIST=2000
 setopt hist_expire_dups_first # delete duplicates first when HISTFILE size exceeds HISTSIZE
 setopt hist_ignore_dups       # ignore duplicated commands history list
 setopt hist_ignore_space      # ignore commands that start with space
 setopt hist_verify            # show command with history expansion to user before running it
 #setopt share_history         # share command history data
 
 # force zsh to show the complete history
 alias history="history 0"
 
 # configure `time` format
 TIMEFMT=$'\nreal\t%E\nuser\t%U\nsys\t%S\ncpu\t%P'
 
 # make less more friendly for non-text input files, see lesspipe(1)
 #[ -x /usr/bin/lesspipe ] && eval "$(SHELL=/bin/sh lesspipe)"
 
 # set variable identifying the chroot you work in (used in the prompt below)
 if [ -z "${debian_chroot:-}" ] && [ -r /etc/debian_chroot ]; then
     debian_chroot=$(cat /etc/debian_chroot)
 fi
 
 # set a fancy prompt (non-color, unless we know we "want" color)
 case "$TERM" in
     xterm-color|*-256color) color_prompt=yes;;
 esac
 
 # uncomment for a colored prompt, if the terminal has the capability; turned
 # off by default to not distract the user: the focus in a terminal window
 # should be on the output of commands, not on the prompt
 force_color_prompt=yes
 
 if [ -n "$force_color_prompt" ]; then
     if [ -x /usr/bin/tput ] && tput setaf 1 >&/dev/null; then
         # We have color support; assume it's compliant with Ecma-48
         # (ISO/IEC-6429). (Lack of such support is extremely rare, and such
         # a case would tend to support setf rather than setaf.)
         color_prompt=yes
     else
         color_prompt=
     fi
 fi
 
 configure_prompt() {
     prompt_symbol=㉿
     # Skull emoji for root terminal
     #[ "$EUID" -eq 0 ] && prompt_symbol=💀
     case "$PROMPT_ALTERNATIVE" in
         twoline)
             PROMPT=$'%F{%(#.blue.green)}┌──${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)─}${VIRTUAL_ENV:+($(basename $VIRTUAL_ENV))─}(%B%F{%(#.red.blue)}%n'$prompt_symbol$'%m%b%F{%(#.blue.green)})-[%B%F{reset}%(6~.%-1~/…/%4~.%5~)%b%F{%(#.blue.green)}]\n└─%B%(#.%F{red}#.%F{blue}$)%b%F{reset} '
             # Right-side prompt with exit codes and background processes
             #RPROMPT=$'%(?.. %? %F{red}%B⨯%b%F{reset})%(1j. %j %F{yellow}%B⚙%b%F{reset}.)'
             ;;
         oneline)
             PROMPT=$'${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}${VIRTUAL_ENV:+($(basename $VIRTUAL_ENV))}%B%F{%(#.red.blue)}%n@%m%b%F{reset}:%B%F{%(#.blue.green)}%~%b%F{reset}%(#.#.$) '
             RPROMPT=
             ;;
         backtrack)
             PROMPT=$'${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}${VIRTUAL_ENV:+($(basename $VIRTUAL_ENV))}%B%F{red}%n@%m%b%F{reset}:%B%F{blue}%~%b%F{reset}%(#.#.$) '
             RPROMPT=
             ;;
     esac
     unset prompt_symbol
 }
 
 # The following block is surrounded by two delimiters.
 # These delimiters must not be modified. Thanks.
 # START KALI CONFIG VARIABLES
 PROMPT_ALTERNATIVE=twoline
 NEWLINE_BEFORE_PROMPT=yes
 # STOP KALI CONFIG VARIABLES
 
 if [ "$color_prompt" = yes ]; then
     # override default virtualenv indicator in prompt
     VIRTUAL_ENV_DISABLE_PROMPT=1
 
     configure_prompt
 
     # enable syntax-highlighting
     if [ -f /usr/share/zsh-syntax-highlighting/zsh-syntax-highlighting.zsh ]; then
         . /usr/share/zsh-syntax-highlighting/zsh-syntax-highlighting.zsh
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_HIGHLIGHTERS=(main brackets pattern)
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[default]=none
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[unknown-token]=underline
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[reserved-word]=fg=cyan,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[suffix-alias]=fg=green,underline
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[global-alias]=fg=green,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[precommand]=fg=green,underline
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[commandseparator]=fg=blue,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[autodirectory]=fg=green,underline
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[path]=bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[path_pathseparator]=
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[path_prefix_pathseparator]=
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[globbing]=fg=blue,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[history-expansion]=fg=blue,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[command-substitution]=none
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[command-substitution-delimiter]=fg=magenta,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[process-substitution]=none
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[process-substitution-delimiter]=fg=magenta,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[single-hyphen-option]=fg=green
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[double-hyphen-option]=fg=green
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[back-quoted-argument]=none
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[back-quoted-argument-delimiter]=fg=blue,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[single-quoted-argument]=fg=yellow
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[double-quoted-argument]=fg=yellow
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[dollar-quoted-argument]=fg=yellow
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[rc-quote]=fg=magenta
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[dollar-double-quoted-argument]=fg=magenta,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[back-double-quoted-argument]=fg=magenta,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[back-dollar-quoted-argument]=fg=magenta,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[assign]=none
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[redirection]=fg=blue,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[comment]=fg=black,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[named-fd]=none
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[numeric-fd]=none
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[arg0]=fg=cyan
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-error]=fg=red,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-level-1]=fg=blue,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-level-2]=fg=green,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-level-3]=fg=magenta,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-level-4]=fg=yellow,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-level-5]=fg=cyan,bold
         ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[cursor-matchingbracket]=standout
     fi
 else
     PROMPT='${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}%n@%m:%~%(#.#.$) '
 fi
 unset color_prompt force_color_prompt
 
 toggle_oneline_prompt(){
     if [ "$PROMPT_ALTERNATIVE" = oneline ]; then
         PROMPT_ALTERNATIVE=twoline
     else
         PROMPT_ALTERNATIVE=oneline
     fi
     configure_prompt
     zle reset-prompt
 }
 zle -N toggle_oneline_prompt
 bindkey ^P toggle_oneline_prompt
 
 # If this is an xterm set the title to user@host:dir
 case "$TERM" in
 xterm*|rxvt*|Eterm|aterm|kterm|gnome*|alacritty)
     TERM_TITLE=$'\e]0;${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}${VIRTUAL_ENV:+($(basename $VIRTUAL_ENV))}%n@%m: %~\a'
     ;;
 *)
     ;;
 esac
 
 precmd() {
     # Print the previously configured title
     print -Pnr -- "$TERM_TITLE"
 
     # Print a new line before the prompt, but only if it is not the first line
     if [ "$NEWLINE_BEFORE_PROMPT" = yes ]; then
         if [ -z "$_NEW_LINE_BEFORE_PROMPT" ]; then
             _NEW_LINE_BEFORE_PROMPT=1
         else
             print ""
         fi
     fi
 }
 
 # enable color support of ls, less and man, and also add handy aliases
 if [ -x /usr/bin/dircolors ]; then
     test -r ~/.dircolors && eval "$(dircolors -b ~/.dircolors)" || eval "$(dircolors -b)"
     export LS_COLORS="$LS_COLORS:ow=30;44:" # fix ls color for folders with 777 permissions
 
     alias ls='ls --color=auto'
     #alias dir='dir --color=auto'
     #alias vdir='vdir --color=auto'
 
     alias grep='grep --color=auto'
     alias fgrep='fgrep --color=auto'
     alias egrep='egrep --color=auto'
     alias diff='diff --color=auto'
     alias ip='ip --color=auto'
 
     export LESS_TERMCAP_mb=$'\E[1;31m'     # begin blink
     export LESS_TERMCAP_md=$'\E[1;36m'     # begin bold
     export LESS_TERMCAP_me=$'\E[0m'        # reset bold/blink
     export LESS_TERMCAP_so=$'\E[01;33m'    # begin reverse video
     export LESS_TERMCAP_se=$'\E[0m'        # reset reverse video
     export LESS_TERMCAP_us=$'\E[1;32m'     # begin underline
     export LESS_TERMCAP_ue=$'\E[0m'        # reset underline
 
     # Take advantage of $LS_COLORS for completion as well
     zstyle ':completion:*' list-colors "${(s.:.)LS_COLORS}"
     zstyle ':completion:*:*:kill:*:processes' list-colors '=(#b) #([0-9]#)*=0=01;31'
 fi
 
 # some more ls aliases
 alias ll='ls -l'
 alias la='ls -A'
 alias l='ls -CF'
 
 # enable auto-suggestions based on the history
 if [ -f /usr/share/zsh-autosuggestions/zsh-autosuggestions.zsh ]; then
     . /usr/share/zsh-autosuggestions/zsh-autosuggestions.zsh
     # change suggestion color
     ZSH_AUTOSUGGEST_HIGHLIGHT_STYLE='fg=#999'
 fi
 
 # enable command-not-found if installed
 if [ -f /etc/zsh_command_not_found ]; then
     . /etc/zsh_command_not_found
 fi

Recap:

Install Zsh via package manager.
Set Zsh as the default shell using chsh.
Create and edit a .zshrc file for custom Zsh configurations.

by: Tanush Kushwah

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Configure-zsh-Shell.md

Configure-zsh-Shell.md

This guide explains how to install, configure, and switch to Zsh as your default shell for an enhanced terminal experience. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Check Available Shells

Step 2: Install Zsh

For Ubuntu/Debian-based systems:

For Fedora:

For CentOS/RHEL:

Step 3: Verify Zsh Installation

Step 4: Set Zsh as the Default Shell

Step 5: Handling `.zshrc` File

Recap:

Files

Configure-zsh-Shell.md

Latest commit

History

Configure-zsh-Shell.md

File metadata and controls

This guide explains how to install, configure, and switch to Zsh as your default shell for an enhanced terminal experience. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Check Available Shells

Step 2: Install Zsh

For Ubuntu/Debian-based systems:

For Fedora:

For CentOS/RHEL:

Step 3: Verify Zsh Installation

Step 4: Set Zsh as the Default Shell

Step 5: Handling .zshrc File

Recap:

Step 5: Handling `.zshrc` File