Zsh vs bash mac which is better. Zsh even has limited support for set operations.

Zsh vs bash mac which is better Most of my well written Bash scripts just work in the Zsh shell, with minor exceptions. zshrc file directly or use the zsh-config tool. One difference is that wildcard characters behave different. Zsh shell command languages, explore their differences, and see how to use both successfully. In this series, I will document my experiences moving bash settings, configurations, and scripts over to zsh. Now, to install Oh My ZSH, follow the instructions on their web page. Part 1: Moving to zsh Part 2: Configuration Files Part 3: Shell Options Part 4: Aliases and Functions Part 5: Completions Part 6: Customizing… Starting with macOS Catalina, Apple changed the default shell from Bash to Zsh. They interpret your commands and interact with the operating system. If you wish to use bash, you can do this, and you can personally install a newer version using HomeBrew <https://brew. Discover their unique features, customization options, scripting capabilities, and user preferences. Learn which shell aligns with your command-line needs in this comprehensive comparison. Users familiar with Bash Scriptures and interactive command lines in Terminal, they quickly observed this change. At first I thought it's just another terminal, but turns out it's a customisation prompt like omz. The difference is using arrays for very basic operations with a Apr 3, 2023 · Zsh, or the Z Shell, is an extended version of the Bourne Shell that incorporates features from Bash, KornShell, and tcsh. 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 Jan 11, 2025 · Both Bash and Zsh are Unix shells designed to make these interactions efficient and intuitive. For scripting, bash, though I'm very excited about nushell getting more mature. Zsh has similarities with Korn shell as well. Zsh is often combined with Oh My Zsh a plugin system and collection of plugins that enhance the shell. This blog post tells the story of my upgrade and the pitfalls and benefits of moving to Fish Shell. The flexibility and Bash-command compatibility of Zsh made it the . Jan 10, 2025 · When it comes to command-line interfaces, the debate between Zsh vs Bash often takes center stage. If it was for Mac admin scripts, sh or zsh would be better as Apple has made zsh the preferred shell, and has indicated other shell and scripting languages may not be included with macOS in the future. Nov 23, 2021 · Zsh is not a clone of Bash and of course there will be Bash-unique syntax that does not work in Zsh, as would be true of most other non-Bash based shells. I was quickly turned off by the long Verb-Name syntax since its really verbose. This file contains a list of commands and settings that will be executed every time you start a new zsh session. 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. Dec 28, 2022 · Configuring zsh In zsh, you can customize your shell by editing the . zshrc file in your home directory. Let’s dive in! What Is a Shell? A shell is more 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. Linux and Mac OS use Bash as their default shell. Mar 30, 2025 · This Mac replaced an earlier Mac, and I have to suppose that Migration Assistant was responsible for preserving bash as a default. 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. 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. Two of the most popular shells for Linux are the Bourne - Again SHell (Bash) and the Z Shell (Zsh). I didn't like oh-my-zsh at all and made the zsh configuration by myself. ZSH, short for Z shell, is a powerful and feature-rich shell program that is often seen as an improvement over the more commonly used Bash shell. Zsh provides the user with more flexibility by providing various features such as plug-in support, better customization, theme support, spelling correction, etc. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the key differences between ZSH and Fish shell. Zsh, while mostly compatible with Bash, prioritizes features and user experience over strict POSIX compliance. I want to share which one I chose and how I went about setting it up. Table of Difference between Bash and Zsh A amruthkiran 8 Sep 18, 2023 · Difference Between Zsh and Bash Zsh is called Z Shell, which is an extension of Bash that has many new features and themes. Reply reply captainstormy • Apr 22, 2024 · As you can see, Bash is significantly faster to start up than Zsh or Fish. Converting your existing bash scripts and workflows to zsh, sh, or bash v5 is an important first step. Explore their origins, features, user-friendliness, and more to find out which shell is In the world of Linux, the command - line interface (CLI) is a powerful tool that allows users to interact directly with the operating system. Zsh in itself is also a compelling scripting language. zshrc which the Terminal reads when it is launched. bash* configs directly. Uncover features, strengths, and tips to master your command line experience. In this article, we will explore what ZSH is, its key features, and the reasons why you Apr 4, 2024 · Bash has better tooling and I write bash more than I write ZSH. stackexchange. Since macOS Catalina, Apple has made Zsh the default shell, replacing Bash. Nov 30, 2022 · Zsh vs Bash Let’s now look at the comparison between ZSH vs BASH for your command-line. Zsh is a particularly popular alternative, and there are other shells, like ash, dash, fish, and tcsh. Benchmarks reveal Bash‘s Oct 20, 2019 · With the launch of Macos Catalina, besides many news and features, Apple also introduced ZSH (Z Shell) in place Bash (Bourne-Again Shell). Using zsh the result for the same command is zsh: no matches found: */vi. 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. Additional processes invoked, like forking subshells unnecessarily impact response times. That seems very odd, that if Apple wants to migrate from bash as a default to zsh as a default it doesn't happen in the operating system itself. 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. Explore the nuances of zsh vs bash in this comprehensive guide. Just recently a colleague told me he's using starship. Oct 23, 2023 · Bash and Zsh share a similar command line syntax. Apr 29, 2024 · Bash and Zsh are popular Unix shell environments that provide command-line interfaces to the operating system. sh>. 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. Since it's based on the same shell as Bash, ZSH has many of the same features, and switching over is a breeze. 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. Bash and Zsh are both popular Unix shell programs that offer similar functionalities, such as command line editing, scripting capabilities, and job control. Sep 12, 2016 · Once upon a long time ago, Mac OS X used tcsh by default, but it now uses bash by default, and includes zsh along with most common shells. As you probably know, Bash is the default shell included on most Linux distributions. 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. Plus, you'll learn if being POSIX-compliant actually matters Mar 24, 2025 · What is Zsh (Z Shell)? Zsh (Z Shell) is a Unix shell that is an improved and more sophisticated alternative to the default Bash shell. Discover which is better for scripting, performance, customization, and productivity in your terminal workflow. 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. But Zsh has been gaining popularity over the last several years as an alternative shell. Dec 27, 2023 · Bash is generally recognized as having better overall performance characteristics vs. 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. Jan 13, 2021 · Bash and Zsh are two popular Linux shells. The three main ones out there are Bash, Zsh, and Fish. Zsh serves as an enhanced alternative to the standard Bourne shell (sh) and Bourne-Again Shell (Bash). Zsh (Z shell) - An interactive login shell, command interpreter and scripting language. It’s a popular choice for developers who seek a more customizable and Mar 29, 2025 · Bash vs Zsh vs Fish: Learn the key differences between the top Linux shells in 2025. In I've always been using oh-my-zsh (omz) on mac/linux and oh-my-bash on windows. Make it the default shell if that’s what you mainly use the Mac terminal for. This guide explores their pros and cons to help you determine which is best to use. Dec 27, 2023 · But exactly what distinguishes these two options? What do they each bring to the table when it comes to features and ease of use? I‘ll provide a friendly overview to eliminate confusion and help you decide which advanced shell better supports your needs and experience level. It’s a plugin system to integrate multiple Zsh scripts. Understanding how shells work sets the foundation for comparing Zsh vs Bash effectively. By the end, you’ll see why Fish provides […] May 21, 2025 · Bash strictly adheres to POSIX standards, which ensures broad compatibility across Unix-like systems. Just use Homebrew to get the latest. 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 Aug 23, 2023 · In this article, I’ll be sharing exactly how I set up my mac terminal to look much cooler and get a much better experience. May 2, 2022 · Zsh was designed with better user interaction in mind. I like zsh personally, but bash and fish are perfectly useable. 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 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. But what is Zsh, and what is Bash? Both are powerful Unix shells with unique capabilities, making them popular among developers. Feb 21, 2024 · Zsh has become so popular lately that Apple made it the default choice on macOS. Jul 8, 2024 · In the case of Bash vs Z shell, neither is really better than the other. zshrc file: May 6, 2020 · When I set up my Windows computer, I had the chance to take another look at the shell I'm using. Spelling correction It’s easy to have typos while working exclusively on the shell. Depending on your objectives, there's a lot of places where I've found ZSH I use the "my dotfiles collection github repository" method. It covers an overview of both shells, the steps for setting them up, 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. However, this is less of a concern for long-running terminal sessions or non-interactive scripts. Created by the GNU Project. Cue the collective sighs and confusion. For example to find all instances of files named "vi" one can use bash with command locate */vi. Read on to finally understand the key differences between Zsh and Oh My Zsh! Why Consider Moving Beyond Bash? First Jul 29, 2025 · Zsh Shell Zsh, short for “Z Shell,” is a powerful command-line shell packed with features. How do Fish and Zsh syntaxes compare to Bash here? Zsh remains close Jan 7, 2013 · By using zsh for some time along with oh-my-zsh framework, I noticed that which command behaves different in zsh, than in bash. However PowerShell is about working with objects while shells like Bash are about working with streams of Zsh has much, much better support for arrays in syntax and functions that can use arrays. Bash vs. rs and with that changed my shell to Fish. Technical Comparison: Zsh vs. But two popular alternatives, ZSH and Fish, offer more advanced features and customization. Beyond that I cannot comment. 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. In this blog, we’ll explore the key features of Zsh and Bash, helping you decide which one suits your workflow best. Nov 26, 2024 · While Zsh is not completely compatible with Bash, it shares some similar functionalities and features with Bash. Some of this stems back to the syntactical decisions that lend CSH more complexity. Zsh offers some advanced functionality 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. Jun 24, 2020 · Conclusion In Catalina Apple started warning us about the eventual demise of bash from macOS. Fish and zsh are probably the most customizable, but bash is still fine. 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. 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. ) 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. I believe both have the necessary plugins and themes I need, so it all just comes down to speed. Sep 1, 2024 · Here are just some of the extensions possible: [showcase some Zsh plugins and themes] Fish limits addons to "completions" – but prioritizes a simplified experience with smart defaults aimed not to need heavy tweaking. This is great because it means most commands and scripts you write will work in either shell, without modification. Here's a comparison: Bash (Bourne Again SHell) History: The successor to the original Bourne shell (sh). This difference matters when you‘re writing scripts that need to run on multiple systems: # This works in both Bash and Zsh / en / versus / bash-vs-zsh BASH vs ZSH Both are powerful command-line shells used primarily on Unix-like operating systems (Linux, macOS). What I mean: MacOS has the benefit of already having ZSH as its default shell, so you can skip the step of setting that up and move straight on to Oh My ZSH and Starship. There are quite a few fans of the Z shell throughout the developer community who advocate for it quite heavily thanks to the many useful features it provides. Oh My Zsh is a popular open-source Zsh configuration framework loved by developers worldwide. It‘s been around for decades and is stable and widely portable. But you also need to consider that the behavior of sh scripts will change when Apple replaces the sh interpreter. We’ll be using iTerm2, zsh, Oh-My-Zsh, Powerlevel10k as the macOS Mar 24, 2024 · zsh for interactive use, because I like a few of it's extra features vs bash (cd -<tab>, cd this that) and I haven't bothered with fish yet. May 13, 2024 · Zsh takes the strengths of Bash and builds upon them. With both Bash and Zsh providing compelling advantages, selecting the right shell for scripting can significantly shape your productivity, and simplify your daily tasks. Dec 27, 2023 · For experienced Linux users, choosing the right shell is an important decision. I have used Bash since Apple began to offer it, and I still believe Zsh is far more powerful. 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. Jun 6, 2023 · Zsh does not read Bash dot files, and you will need just one really, which is . Many hours have gone into iterating between various setups. Discover which shell suits your workflow—scripting, customization, or beginner-friendly use. NET. There's nothing majorly wrong with ZSH - it's better than bash and is a fine enough shell, but the reason to choose it over fish always seems to boil down to either POSIX compatibility or popularity - not because it's actually better than fish in any meaningful way. CSH when it comes to executing shell scripts and commands. If you open up a terminal on Mac (until macOS Mojave), or if you’ve used Linux before, you Aug 3, 2020 · Zsh vs Bash When we talk about UNIX-based programming we usually mean consoles, terminals and command line interfaces. Mar 19, 2025 · Compare the Bash vs. While Bash is the default shell for most Unix-based systems, ZSH offers a number of benefits that make it a popular choice for power users and developers alike. 15 Catalina the default shell will be zsh. At Mar 12, 2024 · Zsh is the default shell for macOS and Kali Linux. zsh may be a little better then bash, but as almost everyone else uses bash and all of the examples are going to be in bash, I'd have to have a compelling use case to switch, especially when I can just run a zsh script when zsh really does have a superior way of doing things, like rm -- * (-@D) to remove dead symlinks. Jul 26, 2023 · Dive into the command-line world with this detailed comparison between two powerful shells: Bash and Zsh. It makes scripting in Zsh oh so much nicer. Jun 21, 2025 · Setting up your macOS shell environment properly is crucial for an efficient development workflow. Both shells allow users to run commands, write scripts, and interact with the operating system efficiently. 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 Let me go over in this video the difference between Bash, ZSH, and Fish, and finally settle the debate on which one is the BEST. Like zsh, bash includes several advanced features and capabilities, such as command line editing For the purpose you indicated, AFAIK bash is best. zshrc config, plus zsh offers a bash-compatibility mode that can read . You‘ll learn about their origins, syntax variations, scripting and interactive capabilities, use cases, communities, and more through insightful examples and analysis. To make the search work in zsh, the search query has to be surrounded by quotes like locate "*/vi". A coworker of mine uses fish instead and he's frequently grumbling over lack of fish support for this or that tool. This means that most of your Bash scripts and command history should work in Zsh. Apr 25, 2025 · Starting with macOS Catalina, Apple ditched Bash as the default shell and gave Zsh the crown. I think those are both fish-inspired, but getting those features in a bash/posix-compatible shell is the best of both worlds. 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. Basic Features of Bash and Zsh 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 Dec 27, 2023 · In this comprehensive 2500+ word guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Zsh vs Bash scripting. While they share many similarities, they also have some significant differences. Its advanced tab completion feature is a game-changer, allowing you to quickly navigate through directories, autocomplete commands, and suggest options based on your command history. Zsh Bash VS zsh Bash is widely used and offers a simple, POSIX-compliant shell experience, making it great for scripting and general use. We‘ll compare Zsh […] Aug 22, 2024 · Understanding the Differences Between Unix Shells: bash, csh, dash, ksh, shh, tcsh, and zsh Unix-like operating systems offer various command-line shells, each with unique features and Aug 20, 2019 · Apple has announced that in macOS 10. Bash While bash is the most widely available shell across Unix-like systems, zsh offers more modern features for interactive use. This article will look at Bash vs 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. The default Bash shell is a powerful option. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore the simple command to start using Zsh on macOS. Let’s check the individual features now. Apr 11, 2025 · Learn the key differences between Zsh and Bash—two powerful Unix shells. Scripting Capabilities Developers spend much of shell time writing scripts to automate tasks or run builds. While Bash emphasizes reliability and simplicity, Zsh adds modern enhancements like auto-suggestions and plugin support, offering a more versatile experience. 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 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. Bash is the abbreviation of the Bourne-again shell. Bash shell is a creation of Brian Fox, and it came out in 1989. Understanding the differences between them can help you choose the one that best 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. Helps system administrators and power-users rapidly automate tasks that manage operating systems (Linux, macOS, and Windows) and processes. Shells in the Development Workflow As a full-stack developer, the shell is an essential part of your toolkit. This comprehensive guide will walk you through configuring environment variables, managing shell profiles, and setting up aliases for optimal productivity. To install ZSH on Ubuntu, either run sudo apt install zsh from CLI or select ZSH from the Software Center. 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. Oh my zsh covers several aspects. ZSH has better frameworks, but I found I didn’t need them over time. You should become familiar with Bash, and read through a cheat sheet or two so that you have a general awareness of its capabilities. 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 A couple of the things that make it much better for me are plugins: zsh-autosuggestions and zsh-syntax-highlighting. Zsh even has limited support for set operations. When I have these three concepts explained, I shall discuss what does it have in common with macOS Catalina. Zsh was released in 1990 by Paul Falstad. So zsh is just an enhanced version of bash ? Would it be better if I learn zsh instead of bash ? I think that i'll do a dual boot on my pc but I don't really know how to do it i'll probably go check on YouTube, I guess that I need an external hard drive for that. The following Zsh HERE document can be copied/pasted into the Terminal and followed by a return to write a new ~/. com To be clear: to set up Homebrew, you do not need to install bash manually or anything. PowerShell - A command-line shell and scripting language built on . That is, Mac is depending on YOU to make the change, rather than them. It has specific differences in terms of scripting from Bash, but that doesn’t pose a problem. Developed in 1990, Zsh borrows features from the Korn Shell (ksh) and the C shell (csh) but adds more sophisticated features like improved tab completion, better scripting, and personalization. bash_profile config for various command line tools; less common but not unheard of to get a . It includes 300+ plugins, themes, and tweaks to supercharge your terminal experience. 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. On the other side, there are even more fans of Bash who know that their biggest advantage is their far larger user 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. Why not write a blog post for the undecided? Maybe you’re on the fence and looking for more information on whether the switch would be worth it? Apr 5, 2022 · I changed my prompt configurator from Oh-My-Zsh to Starship. To make changes to your zsh configuration, you can edit the . Whether you‘re working on a small personal project or a large enterprise application, being proficient with the 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. See full list on apple. Meaning if you need to use Mar 3, 2017 · Most Linux distributions include the bash shell by default, but you could also switch to another shell environment. May 15, 2020 · A One Minute Introduction to Bash, Zsh, and fish Bash Bash is the most common Linux shell out there. 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. Zsh is designed for both interactive use and scripting, and it offers numerous advanced features that aim to improve the user experience and None of them matter for gaming, it's merely preference and use case for your choices. Also, it's common to provide a . This tutorial will help you for switching between Zsh and Bash on macOS systems. Dec 28, 2022 · What is Bash? Bash (short for “Bourne-again shell”) is a Unix shell developed by Brian Fox in 1989. Zsh, on the other hand, provides advanced features, better customization, and is more suited for interactive use, especially for power users. Each shell has its own set of features, advantages, and use - cases. Apple includes a bash install with macOS, it's just an older version (tl;dr Apple doesn't want to deal with GPLv3 licensing and therefore switched to zsh by default rather than bundle newer versions of bash). 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. The most common command shell is Bash, but there are other options available and widely used, such as the Z Shell or zsh. In 1971, the UNIX operating system was released along with the Thompson shell. (Maybe Zsh or Fish, also. Bash and PowerShell are both shells, but of the two, PowerShell is vastly, vastly, vastly more powerful as a tool. Since then, many developers have wondered: What’s the difference between Bash and Zsh? and Should I switch? Sep 29, 2023 · Explore the differences between Zsh and Bash, two powerful command-line shells. Bash is known for its simplicity, POSIX compliance, and widespread availability across Linux distributions 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 … Apr 12, 2020 · Therefore, I will explain what is a shell, then bash and zsh. ofo oze mic pqgbb vfqsnm rmihz iefil xuk bzpxo vcctef emph pomui ofzzi onp cocwg