Mac zsh vs bash zshrc in case you use Z shell (executable zsh)). It’s a plugin system to integrate multiple Zsh scripts. In Settings, click on the features dropdown and then on Terminal Click on edit in settings. PowerShell - A command-line shell and scripting language built on . In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore the simple command to start using Zsh on macOS. But what is Zsh, and what is Bash? Both are powerful Unix shells with unique capabilities, making them popular among developers. bash_profile file (~/. But two popular alternatives, ZSH and Fish, offer more advanced features and customization. Bash shell is a creation of Brian Fox, and it came out in 1989. By the end, you’ll see why Fish provides […] Dec 15, 2020 · The GPL License for the current bash is incompatible with many application-distribution-systems, like the Mac App Store, and certain other software distribution platforms 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. bash_profile has been replaced with ~/. Like a true replacement should, Bash is capable of executing all of the Bourne shell commands without a problem. Jul 24, 2017 · For those who are using MAC Launch Visual Studio Code and go to Settings. Once configured, ZSH supercharges your terminal with handy features for developers and power users. Nov 19, 2021 · zsh has a friendly to Apple software license and is mostly compatible with bash, and zsh is not controlled by the Free Software Foundation as founded by Richard Stallman and creator of the GPLv3 license. May 31, 2015 · Just saying. Uncover features, strengths, and tips to master your command line experience. A key reason many programmers switch is all the different By following this comprehensive guide on how to change shell to bash mac, you can seamlessly transition from Zsh to Bash, customize your environment, and utilize the many powerful features Bash offers. 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. It‘s been around for decades and is stable and widely portable. zsh and bash are different shells that can be used on macOS and other Unix style OSes (Linux, BSD, macOS …). bash* configs directly. Mar 12, 2024 · Here in this article, we are going to differentiate between the two most popular shells bash and zsh. Zsh is an interactive shell which incorporates a lot of useful features from other shells. 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. osx": "/bin/zsh" then you must close that terminal with the trash icon. Moving to zsh from bash was pretty simple. Starting with macOS Catalina, Apple changed the default shell from Bash to Zsh. Apr 11, 2025 · Learn the key differences between Zsh and Bash—two powerful Unix shells. Apr 29, 2024 · Bash and Zsh are popular Unix shell environments that provide command-line interfaces to the operating system. While Bash emphasizes reliability and simplicity, Zsh adds modern enhancements like auto-suggestions and plugin support, offering a more versatile experience. Like zsh, bash includes several advanced features and capabilities, such as command line editing Bash, zsh and fish offer parameter name completion through a definition external to the command, distributed in a separate completion definition file. 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. Technical Comparison: Zsh vs. Zsh (Z shell) - An interactive login shell, command interpreter and scripting language. Whether you're a beginner looking to Jun 25, 2019 · Bash vs Z shell: A Tale of Two Command Line Shells 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 … One difference is that wildcard characters behave different. Let’s dive in! What Is a Shell? A shell is more Explore the nuances of zsh vs bash in this comprehensive guide. But you also need to consider that the behavior of sh scripts will change when Apple replaces the sh interpreter. zsh (Z shell) is the default shell for all newly created user accounts, starting with macOS Catalina. For command parameter name/value completions, these shells assume path/filename completion if no completion is defined for the command. Jun 21, 2025 · Setting up your macOS shell environment properly is crucial for an efficient development workflow. The following Zsh HERE document can be copied/pasted into the Terminal and followed by a return to write a new ~/. Zsh is often combined with Oh My Zsh a plugin system and collection of plugins that enhance the shell. Now when I am trying to check the shell type, I am getting different responses. May 21, 2025 · Bash strictly adheres to POSIX standards, which ensures broad compatibility across Unix-like systems. Apr 26, 2025 · This tutorial will help you for switching between Zsh and Bash on macOS systems. You‘ll learn about their origins, syntax variations, scripting and interactive capabilities, use cases, communities, and more through insightful examples and analysis. Zsh is a particularly popular alternative, and there are other shells, like ash, dash, fish, and tcsh. Oh-My-Zsh: an open source, community-driven framework for managing your Zsh configuration. shell. The linked article [1] explains the difference between . bash_profile or . zsh, editing tools, and using templates. Terminal will need a restart to take effect. Helps system administrators and power-users rapidly automate tasks that manage operating systems (Linux, macOS, and Windows) and processes. Bash While bash is the most widely available shell across Unix-like systems, zsh offers more modern features for interactive use. In this series, I will document my experiences moving bash settings, configurations, and scripts over to zsh. At first I thought it's just another terminal, but turns out it's a customisation prompt like omz. This difference matters when you‘re writing scripts that need to run on multiple systems: # This works in both Bash and Zsh Jul 8, 2024 · For many years it has shipped as the default shell for GNU, most Linux distributions, and Mac OS X (version 10. Sep 18, 2023 · Explore key differences & head to head comparison (infographics) between Zsh & Bash. zprofile and since installing iTerm2 shell integration, it added a ~/. bash_profile config for various command line tools; less common but not unheard of to get a . 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. im familiar that they operate pretty similarly, but just wondering if anybody has experience out there with zsh on their linux build. With both Bash and Zsh providing compelling advantages, selecting the right shell for scripting can significantly shape your productivity, and simplify your daily tasks. Since then, many developers have wondered: What’s the difference between Bash and Zsh? and Should I switch? Mar 17, 2019 · Tip: If you want to run Visual Studio Code from the terminal, append the following to your ~/. Dec 27, 2023 · Have you ever wondered if there‘s a better, more powerful shell beyond the default Bash experience on your Mac? Look no further than Zsh, the highly customizable Z shell that‘s a favorite of developers and power users. Sep 23, 2023 · bash is the default shell on a mac If you are confused over bash, zsh and shell, just remember they are one family. Jun 8, 2019 · Now, assuming you're considering switching to zsh, which has been a possibility for years, here are the main differences you'll encounter. For example to find all instances of files named "vi" one can use bash with command locate */vi. Are there any benefits to using PowerShell over Bash or Zsh in a Unixy OS? I've been looking at different shells and briefly tried the tutorial for PowerShell. Bash is still there and I’ve not found any link to an official deprecation. zsh_profile file. In addition, there’s a bunch of things Zsh can do to make your terminal experience better. Are you looking to enhance your terminal and command-line workflow on Mac? Then setting Zsh as the default shell is an impactful upgrade. integrated. Oct 21, 2019 · /bin/sh usually means that your script is POSIX-compliant and can be run without modification using any POSIX-compliant shell (dash, ash, bash, zsh in compatibility mode, etc). Created by the GNU Project. However, ZSH offers more flexibility and customization options. Mar 29, 2023 · 使用Mac系统的朋友应该比较熟悉Zsh和Bash这两个shell，但是对二者具体有什么区别可能不太了解。本文将从这两个shell入手，对相关概念以及二者区别进行解释。 1. This comprehensive guide will walk you through configuring environment variables, managing shell profiles, and setting up aliases for optimal productivity. It covers an overview of both shells, the steps for setting them up, methods for transitioning between them, and tips for customizing your shell environment. Converting your existing bash scripts and workflows to zsh, sh, or bash v5 is an important first step. 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. Jan 10, 2025 · When it comes to command-line interfaces, the debate between Zsh vs Bash often takes center stage. zshrc config, plus zsh offers a bash-compatibility mode that can read . Scripts always use the "#!/bin/bash" or "#!/bin/zsh" to direct the target environment. A coworker of mine uses fish instead and he's frequently grumbling over lack of fish support for this or that tool. Jan 15, 2024 · 文章浏览阅读2. 0 (GPLv2 vs GPLv3). The default Bash shell is a powerful option. They interpret your commands and interact with the operating system. Enhanced auto-completions and globbing, spell correction, path replacement, the list Oh My Zsh is a popular open-source Zsh configuration framework loved by developers worldwide. bashrc in more detail. Here's a comparison: Bash (Bourne Again SHell) History: The successor to the original Bourne shell (sh). Bash and Zsh are both popular Unix shell programs that offer similar functionalities, such as command line editing, scripting capabilities, and job control. 什么是shell？shell 单词的本意是“壳子”，在计算机领域一样可以理解为机器外面的一层壳，目的是进行用于人机交互，本质上是 Mar 26, 2024 · Zsh is the default login and interactive shell on Mac. zsh offers a superset of capability. It’s a popular choice for developers who seek a more customizable and 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. It includes 300+ plugins, themes, and tweaks to supercharge your terminal experience. May 12, 2025 · The command-line shell is an essential tool for interacting with the operating system, allowing users to execute commands, automate tasks, and run scripts efficiently. Zsh seems up to date with the latest version available. (Maybe Zsh or Fish, also. ) May 10, 2021 · Zsh: an extended Bourne Shell (sh) with many improvements, powerful command line editing options, and support for plugins and themes. In this blog, we’ll explore the key features of Zsh and Bash, helping you decide which one suits your workflow best. zsh is highly compatible with the Bourne shell (sh) and mostly compatible with bash, with some differences. Basic Features of Bash and Zsh 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. 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. Example: Terminal May 6, 2020 · When I set up my Windows computer, I had the chance to take another look at the shell I'm using. Bash vs Zsh Bash is the default shell on Linux and Mac OS X. If you wish to use bash, you can do this, and you can personally install a newer version using HomeBrew <https://brew. May 15, 2020 · A One Minute Introduction to Bash, Zsh, and fish Bash Bash is the most common Linux shell out there. I personally use oh-my-zsh so I set my environment variables via . But Zsh has been gaining popularity over the last several years as an alternative shell. Reinitialize After making changes in the respective file, you have to reinitialize this file. This guide compares Zsh vs Bash, helping to make an informed choice. 1k次，点赞26次，收藏26次。本文介绍了如何在Mac终端中配置新应用环境，重点讲解了shell的基本原理，包括bash和zsh的区别，以及如何在MacOS中切换默认shell。 Jul 19, 2022 · I recently became aware of readarray in Bash v5. Discover which is better for scripting, performance, customization, and productivity in your terminal workflow. This is great because it means most commands and scripts you write will work in either shell, without modification. Is there an equivalent for zsh? 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. 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. And Bash is great – it gets the job done on basic terminal tasks. zsh is the default shell in more recent macOS versions while bash is the default for older ones. Contribute to romkatv/powerlevel10k development by creating an account on GitHub. json (the icon at the top right) and add this line of code to the user settings json file: "terminal. We‘ll compare Zsh […] Dec 28, 2022 · What is Bash? Bash (short for “Bourne-again shell”) is a Unix shell developed by Brian Fox in 1989. Jun 24, 2020 · Conclusion In Catalina Apple started warning us about the eventual demise of bash from macOS. However, you can switch to bash from zsh, if you prefer. The three main ones out there are Bash, Zsh, and Fish. Dec 27, 2023 · In this comprehensive 2500+ word guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Zsh vs Bash scripting. Since macOS Catalina, Apple has made Zsh the default shell, replacing Bash. bash_profile and . Terminal Terminal is just a graphical user interface which takes your keyboard input, and prints stuff. The new macOS Catalina update will include zsh as the default shell, and older macOS versions can also move to the new shell too Nov 8, 2020 · 使用Mac系统的朋友应该比较熟悉Zsh和Bash这两个shell，但是对二者具体有什么区别可能不太了解。 本文将从这两个shell入手，对相关概念以及二者区别进行解释。 Aug 23, 2018 · Are there any advantages to using zsh vs bash shell in Terminal app? Also, can you use zsh from the terminal? My understanding of zsh is skewed. The most common command shell is Bash, but there are other options available and widely used, such as the Z Shell or zsh. 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 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 And install bash on your system alongside zsh, then although your interactive shell uses zsh, your script will run on bash, and you will catch your bug before it leaves your computer. Just recently a colleague told me he's using starship. Mar 4, 2024 · Encountering the zsh: command not found: code error can be a frustrating roadblock for developers and coders eager to streamline their… Dec 25, 2024 · ターミナルを使った作業に欠かせないシェル環境。 LinuxやmacOSでよく使われるシェルとして、Bash（Bourne Again Shell）とZsh（Z Shell）の2つが挙げられます。どちらもコマンドを実行するための環境ですが、それぞれに特徴や違いがあります。本記 May 18, 2021 · Zsh: an extended Bourne Shell (sh) with many improvements, powerful command line editing options, and support for plugins and themes. In this article, Zsh vs Bash we will try to draw a line between the two shells and show the differences so that you can understand why you should use one Oct 23, 2023 · Bash and Zsh share a similar command line syntax. Bash ( Bourne-Again shell ) 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. Cue the collective sighs and confusion. This is not an exhaustive list! Apr 25, 2025 · Starting with macOS Catalina, Apple ditched Bash as the default shell and gave Zsh the crown. They are very similar. Zsh is great, and is even better with oh-my-zsh, but if you have to deal with Linux that may or not have zsh (including legacy ones), and colleagues that may or not know/use zsh, probably sticking with bash is a good choice. Oh my zsh covers several aspects. Jun 4, 2019 · Apple is moving away from the bash shell on macOS. Bash and PowerShell are both shells, but of the two, PowerShell is vastly, vastly, vastly more powerful as a tool. sh>. Aug 3, 2020 · Zsh vs Bash When we talk about UNIX-based programming we usually mean consoles, terminals and command line interfaces. That said, ultimately, the choice between bash and zsh will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Because of its added capabilities over bash, apple ships macOS Catalina and higher with zsh as the default shell in its terminals. Our crowd-sourced lists contains nine apps similar to Bash-it for Linux, Mac, zsh, BSD and more. Zsh shell command languages, explore their differences, and see how to use both successfully. Sep 24, 2023 · ZSH, also called the Z shell, is an extended version of the Bourne Shell (sh), with new features and support for plugins and themes. 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. However PowerShell is about working with objects while shells like Bash are about working with streams of A Zsh theme. Jun 6, 2023 · Zsh does not read Bash dot files, and you will need just one really, which is . Zsh, while mostly compatible with Bash, prioritizes features and user experience over strict POSIX compliance. To make the search work in zsh, the search query has to be surrounded by quotes like locate "*/vi". 2 - last updated in 2014) and not providing more recent versions of bash seems to be related to a change in the license with version 4. Jan 11, 2025 · Both Bash and Zsh are Unix shells designed to make these interactions efficient and intuitive. 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 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. Powerlevel10k: a theme for Zsh with interface helpers, such as git current branch and execution time. It aimed to be a convenient interface for Unix-based systems at the time… [background on bash creation, versions, features, adoption over time] Zsh In contrast, Zsh was created later by Paul Falstad in 1990 as an extended Bourne shell alternative. zshrc. This means that most of your Bash scripts and command history should work in Zsh. that's it, now if you open another 2 days ago · If your user account was created before macOS Catalina, which still has bash as the default shell, or you invoke the bash shell while your Mac is set to use zsh, you will see the message that reads "The default interactive shell is now zsh. 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. Mar 19, 2025 · Compare the Bash vs. zshrc file: Aug 20, 2019 · Apple has announced that in macOS 10. This article will look at Bash vs Oct 14, 2024 · If you’re a mac-based developer like me, and you never quite understood the difference between Bash Tagged with bash, zsh, macbook, shell. zsh is similar to bash but has some additional features. zshrc which the Terminal reads when it is launched. There are quite a few features that the Bash shell has and some of the lesser-known ones include: Aug 2, 2023 · Switch from Zsh to Bash on Mac using one of the two methods described in this article. Nov 30, 2022 · Conclusion: ZSH and Bash – Which one is better? By the look of it zsh definitely better than bash. Sep 1, 2024 · Origins and History Bash Bash traces its roots all the way back to the Bourne shell (sh), created by Stephen Bourne at Bell Labs in 1977. Zsh offers some advanced functionality Dec 27, 2023 · For experienced Linux users, choosing the right shell is an important decision. Apr 7, 2021 · Zsh Zsh is for people wanting an interesting mix of a good compatibility with Bash and an ecosystem of plugins with a reasonable installation process. 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 May 11, 2023 · What Apple admins need to know about creating Mac shell scripts. Bash is known for its simplicity, POSIX compliance, and widespread availability across Linux distributions Apr 12, 2020 · Bash? Zsh? Which Shell to use in macOS Catalina What is a shell, and what does it have to do with macOS Catalina Introduction So, I'm learning Flutter now, trough the App Brewery's course Sep 25, 2021 · The whole thing can also be done in the . NET. Understanding how shells work sets the foundation for comparing Zsh vs Bash effectively. 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. But what's the difference, and why are there so many? What Do Shells Do? When you sign in at the command line or launch a terminal window on Linux, the system launches the shell I've always been using oh-my-zsh (omz) on mac/linux and oh-my-bash on windows. bash is the reincarnation of shell, and zsh is a child of bash. May 18, 2025 · The command-line shell is an essential tool for interacting with the operating system, allowing users to execute commands, automate tasks, and run scripts efficiently. This article explodes some advantages of Fish, such as pre-installed plugins, faster and simpler setup, along with a step-by-step guide to make your migration seamless and efficient. Bash is the default login shell for most Linux distributions. 15 Catalina the default shell will be zsh. You should become familiar with Bash, and read through a cheat sheet or two so that you have a general awareness of its capabilities. /bin/bash says you need bash, but doesn't say which version of bash is required. Both shells allow users to run commands, write scripts, and interact with the operating system efficiently. 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. My environment is set up to support either based on group of startup scripts I maintain. 3+). A key reason many programmers switch is all the different 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. Starship is the minimal, blazing fast, and extremely customizable prompt for any shell! Shows the information you need, while staying sleek and minimal. / en / versus / bash-vs-zsh BASH vs ZSH Both are powerful command-line shells used primarily on Unix-like operating systems (Linux, macOS). I have tried to change it into ZSH by command chsh -s /bin/zsh. COMMAND-1 input Apr 3, 2023 · Zsh, or the Z Shell, is an extended version of the Bourne Shell that incorporates features from Bash, KornShell, and tcsh. Since it's based on the same shell as Bash, ZSH has many of the same features, and switching over is a breeze. I want to share which one I chose and how I went about setting it up. Also, it's common to provide a . The best Bash-it alternatives are Oh My Zsh, Starship and Antigen. Apr 17, 2020 · Now that I've upgraded to Catalina and I am using the new ZSH shell, I've noticed that ~/. 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. Dec 12, 2024 · Why ZSH Over Bash Most operating systems like MacOS default to using Bash as the command line shell. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the key differences between ZSH and Fish shell. Tips for macOS shell scripting including bash vs. To update your account to use zsh, please run `chsh -s /bin/zsh`. As you probably know, Bash is the default shell included on most Linux distributions. Nov 26, 2024 · While Zsh is not completely compatible with Bash, it shares some similar functionalities and features with Bash. . While they share many similarities, they also have some significant differences. Mar 3, 2017 · Most Linux distributions include the bash shell by default, but you could also switch to another shell environment. Part 1: Moving to zsh Part 2: Configuration Files Part 3: Shell Options Part 4: Aliases and Functions Part 5: Completions Part 6: Customizing… Oct 6, 2024 · In this video, we dive into the world of command-line shells, focusing on two of the most popular options: Zsh and Bash. Default shell in my mac was bash. However, the version of bash available on macOS is pretty old (3. I believe both have the necessary plugins and themes I need, so it all just comes down to speed. The tutorial covers steps for the CLI and GUI methods. If you open up a terminal on Mac (until macOS Mojave), or if you’ve used Linux before, you Dec 12, 2024 · Why ZSH Over Bash Most operating systems like MacOS default to using Bash as the command line shell. Nov 26, 2024 · Discover how switching from Zsh to Fish shell can enhance your productivity with faster performance, rich built-in functionality, and an user-friendly configuration experience. Using zsh the result for the same command is zsh: no matches found: */vi. This is done by injecting arguments and/or environment variables when the shell session launches. The core Jun 17, 2025 · Linux | Shell (vs Terminal) shell vs terminal, sh, bash and zsh etc. 命令行 Shell 是与操作系统交互的核心工具，允许用户高效地执行命令、自动化任务以及运行脚本。 虽然市面上有多种 Shell 可供选择，但 Bash、Zsh 和 Fish 是最受欢迎的三大 Shell，它们各自拥有独特的功能特点。因… Dec 16, 2024 · Hopefully by outlining the background, pros and cons, feature comparisons, and key differentiators between Bash vs Zsh vs Fish – this guide has helped identify the best shell fit for your particular requirements as a beginner or advancing developer. Quick installation available for Bash, Fish, ZSH, Ion, Tcsh, Elvish, Nu, Xonsh, Cmd, and PowerShell. I was quickly turned off by the long Verb-Name syntax since its really verbose. wjpp adule frr pfsqv zizo tzbksi ckbrsb veox tuswrg phsjv ptfo alqlnw rkowmj ceqna hvikf