Use bash instead of zsh. But Catalina replaced it with zsh.

Use bash instead of zsh. The default shell on the server was bash and I wanted to change it to zsh. While zsh can be compiled on any Unix or Unix-like and even Windows at least via Cygwin, and is packaged for most Open Source Unix-likes and several commercial ones, it is generally not included in the default install. Feb 21, 2024 · Zsh has become so popular lately that Apple made it the default choice on macOS. This post is going to describe how to switch from the zsh shell to the bash shell. bash_profile. Jul 13, 2019 · I'm looking to switch from bash to zsh but concerned about compatibility of bash scripts. bash on the other end is installed on GNU systems (as bash is the shell of the GNU project) like the great majority of non-embedded Linux based systems and Mar 23, 2025 · Description: When using Cursor’s Agent Mode terminal, the shell defaults to bash regardless of the selected terminal profile settings. But not to Zsh, no. Jan 2, 2021 · 38 Answer from the Stack Overflow (switching from zsh to bash): You can just use exec to replace your current shell with a new shell: Switch to bash: exec bash Switch to zsh: exec zsh This won't affect new terminal windows or anything, but it's convenient. Now start using zsh by modifying the configuration file located at ~/. 04 operating system, and this tutorial assumes you are using bash or zsh. If you’d like to switch to zsh in the future, follow the steps above and choose Default login shell under Shells open with. Since Ubuntu Jan 13, 2021 · Bash and Zsh are two popular Linux shells. The default terminal in my VS Code has not changed back to Bash for some reason. 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. This however is really akin to the differences between vim and vi; you don't want to be naive but practically it's no big deal. I’ve generated this document based on using the bash shell on a computer running the Ubuntu Linux version 20. linux": "/bin/bash" I just can't seem to find the right path to use for zsh Apr 11, 2022 · The most actionable of these potential solutions is the development of your own pwsh profile code that will sort of fake a given command, within PowerShell only, to allow you to use the same command/workflow you would have in bash or zsh, implemented as a compatibility proxy under the hood within PowerShell. Jun 4, 2019 · Apple is moving away from the bash shell on macOS. While they share many similarities, they also have some significant differences. By the end of this article, you should have a clear understanding of the differences between zsh and bash and which one is the best choice Apr 9, 2025 · In recent versions of MacOS, zsh is the default shell. To change your default shell from Zsh to Bash, simply run the "chsh -s /bin/bash" command in Terminal and reopen it. So far Oct 19, 2024 · I use VSCode with the Remote - SSH extension to ssh into my Linux server. Check if you did something like that. On Windows, this includes PowerShell 5 & 7, WSL2, and Git Bash. Bash is the default login shell for most Linux distributions. We’ll cover everything from installation and setup, to customizing and configuring each shell, to using advanced features and tools. defaultProfile. Since it’s based on the same shell as Bash, ZSH has many of the same features, and switching over is a breeze. On some terminals like Guake (with Preferences > Shell > Default interpreter), you can chose another default shell only for this terminal, different from your login. external. Especially if you know about the most significant differences. So Why Use It? ZSH has too many features to list here, some just minor improvements to Bash, but here are some of the major ones: Automatic Mar 15, 2021 · like echo "\!" : output is ! with ZSH and \! with Bash. Apr 9, 2016 · How to use brew to get the latest zsh instead of the one that Mac OS X installs, a post by Rick Cogley. zshrc or copying the former into the latter. Jan 10, 2025 · The Zsh vs Bash debate boils down to their unique features, strengths, and intended use cases. While the article is targeted at Linux users, this should also work on other Unix-like systems. Zsh Sep 6, 2023 · I felt comfortable using bash shell on MacOS. Granted on linux that's most of them. I haven’t tested zsh personally yet but it should make no difference when using external commands like apt-get, sed, awk, wget and so on. For Bash that would be /bin/bash. For Zsh that would be /usr/bin/zsh. According to How To Change Your Default Shell From Zsh To Bash on Mac, this change likely started with macOS Catalina: With macOS Catalina, Apple switched from using bash as the default terminal shell to Zsh. Dec 27, 2023 · Behind the scenes, this updates your user account details to utilize Bash for shell access going forward instead of Zsh. Uncover features, strengths, and tips to master your command line experience. Apr 29, 2024 · Bash and Zsh are popular Unix shell environments that provide command-line interfaces to the operating system. login won't do anything for you. Each shell has its own set of features, advantages, and use - cases. The new macOS Catalina update will include zsh as the default shell, and older macOS versions can also move to the new shell too Jan 30, 2023 · Coming back here to say that Nix for some reason expects a bash derivative for NIX_BUILD_SHELL so zsh doesn’t actually work there. This method is not perfect but it should work well in most cases. , there are still use cases where Bash may prove helpful in the macOS terminal. nix: I've installed Linux subsystem for Windows 10. 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. While Zsh is in many ways superior to Bash, thanks to its floating-point support, hash data structures, customization options, etc. Steps to Reproduce: Clean install Cursor Set default terminal profile to “zsh” in&hellip; Mar 26, 2024 · You’ll have to re-run that command whenever you want to use bash instead of zsh. Use ZSH now from any another shell (for example, go from current Bash to ZSH) : exec zsh. Nov 30, 2019 · 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. I asked it why it uses zsh instead of bash and it told me that it was Mar 26, 2024 · Instead, Apple tells you that the default shell on MacOS systems is zsh, and they prefer that you use that instead of bash. Here are a few: 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. It has specific differences in terms of scripting from Bash, but that doesn’t pose a problem. , sh, csh, tcsh, fish). shell. Legacy systems: Bash is still the best choice for legacy systems where zsh may not be available. Because of this, I frequently have it suggest to edit my zshrc or find that common commands, or version of node and similar don’t actually exist - because of course they don’t - I don’t use zsh. Talking about compatibility, zsh is compatible with POSIX sh scripts, it isn't POSIX compliant, meaning that they allow extra features that are not standard: 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 Aug 19, 2023 · What is Zsh? Zsh, also called Z shell, is a UNIX shell that is built on top of the Bourne shell (macOS default shell), more commonly know as bash. It seems to run something Why You Should Use ZSH Instead of Bash While Bash is a powerful and versatile shell program, ZSH offers a number of advantages that make it a compelling choice for many users. g. Feb 20, 2025 · TL;DR: Zsh offers a superior shell experience with powerful autocompletion, plugins, and customization, making workflows faster and more efficient. osx actually works, but the value has to be changed from /bin/zsh to May 3, 2017 · 1 Reinstalling all the environment is IMHO an overkill. 15) would adopt… Nov 11, 2021 · Of course, I could set up the shell as I want it under WSL, but WSL doesn’t always play nicely with Windows-native applications and tools. Jan 9, 2019 · Visual studio code always uses the default bash terminal which can be, in my case for example, a little boring. How to Use Zsh May 5, 2019 · When launching an attached container in "VS Code Remote Development", has anyone found a way to change the container's shell when launching the vscode integrated terminal. that helps to some degree. After installing it I was having issues, so I removed it. If you select "No" in the resulting dialog, then the system will be updated to point /bin/sh to bash instead of dash. Bash vs. 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. Zsh in itself is also a compelling scripting language. Aug 29, 2023 · Apple now uses Zsh as the default shell on macOS, but the old Bash shell is still included and easily switchable. Using this you can set Bash, sh, Zsh, Csh, Fish, etc. zshrc is a file that runs zsh commands. I think most people who use zsh use it as an interactive language, and still do most of their scripting from bash. The gnome-terminal on Ubuntu desktop will always use " bash " in a new tab. Zsh and bash have different syntax in important parts of the language. I defined in programs. 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 Explore the nuances of zsh vs bash in this comprehensive guide. Before Starting You should be familiar with using the macOS Terminal command line. This article teaches you how to switch to Bash from Zsh on macOS using CLI and System Settings. Wh Dec 28, 2022 · In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at both zsh and bash, comparing their features, benefits, and drawbacks. If you're planning cross platform, learn both. integrated. Mar 29, 2020 · The system shell startup files are setting SHELL to /bin/bash which is the shell specified for your user account. How May 2, 2022 · Zsh was designed with better user interaction in mind. Note that this snippet is specific to csh; if your login shell is not (t)csh, this code in ~/. Mar 3, 2025 · Claude (set to default) always seems to use zsh instead of bash (which is my system wide shell, that vscode also uses). (only when you want to change it for another user than yourself) If you want to use bash, change the shell to bash instead of sh … chsh -s /bin/bash You don’t want to use /bin/sh as your default shell - use bash or zsh. Nov 3, 2021 · Switching from Bash to Zsh? Getting your terminal on board can be tricky. This will ensure that every time you open a terminal, Bash is launched instead of Zsh. zshrc instead of trying to run . osxExec": "iTerm. Open up a terminal window and enter the command to get it working on your distribution. To remedy this, I looked into how I could set up Zsh to run instead of Bash in Git Bash. Mar 12, 2024 · Here in this article, we are going to differentiate between the two most popular shells bash and zsh. Zsh is an extended Bourne shell with many improvements, including some features of Bash, ksh, and tcsh. While Bash is a robust, reliable shell widely used for scripting and basic command-line tasks, Zsh takes things further with modern enhancements, customizability, and interactivity. If you want to execute zsh instead of bash, just replace /usr/local/bin/bash by the path to the zsh executable. as your shell. . For portability, no. On macOS and Linux, this includes bash, zsh, fish, and PowerShell (pwsh). It works fine, but I want to change the default shell environment for the subsystem. With both Bash and Zsh providing compelling advantages, selecting the right shell for scripting can significantly shape your productivity, and simplify your daily tasks. If you change your shell using chsh rather than in kitty. Sep 29, 2023 · Explore the differences between Zsh and Bash, two powerful command-line shells. shell = “$ {pkgs. Aug 2, 2023 · Zsh replaced Bash as macOS's default terminal shell in macOS Catalina. terminal. Anyway, one of the keys to a smooth-running Mac is regular maintenance. Mar 19, 2025 · Compare the Bash vs. Run the following command: chsh -s /bin/zsh Enter your password and your default shell will be changed to zsh. Mar 3, 2017 · Most Linux distributions include the bash shell by default, but you could also switch to another shell environment. Are all bash scripts/functions compatible with zsh? Therefore, if that is true is zsh just an enhancement In the example it sets the default terminal to be the iTerm app: "terminal. Sep 24, 2023 · What is ZSH? ZSH, also called the Z shell, is an extended version of the Bourne Shell (sh), with new features and support for plugins and themes. How to setup Bash and Zsh on your computer In this section, we'll explore how you can setup bash on a Windows operating system. Although they are the same, I just feel comfortable with the layout of bash in some situations. I did sudo apt-get install fish and then chsh -s /usr/bin/fish. osx has been deprecated for terminal. I dont want to have to pass a bunch of parameters with ssh either, can't I set the default shell? Oct 5, 2024 · Issue description When opening tmux or any pane, tmux runs bash as default shell instead of the user default zsh. Nov 26, 2024 · This script times the execution of the command ls -l, which could be useful to compare performance differences between Bash and Zsh. Zsh became the default in macOS Catalina and higher version of macOS. So if you're planning on specializing in linux you should learn bash instead of powershell. ” To install ZSH on Fedora, “run sudo dnf install zsh” then switch the shell by entering A lot of scripts you will use for things like installs, or pure bash programs are written to bash, and will break with zsh. 04 included (and Debian 11 included), you can switch sh to bash (instead of dash, the default) by reconfiguring dash (yes, it’s somewhat counter-intuitive): sudo dpkg-reconfigure dash This will ask whether you want dash to be the default system shell; answer “No” (Tab then Enter) and bash will become the default instead (i. Dec 1, 2021 · This article explains how to change the default shell in Linux. conf, that should be automatically fixed. May 5, 2012 · I am trying to set ZSH as my default shell, however it keeps reverting back to bash. Dec 12, 2024 · As a programmer who spends a lot of time in the terminal, having a powerful and visually pleasing command line interface can greatly improve productivity and enjoyment. Mar 24, 2023 · Arch Linux sudo pacman -S zsh Fedora sudo dnf install zsh Set up zsh as default shell Once Zsh is installed, you can set zsh as your default shell. Oct 22, 2024 · Have the issue with shell which is used by tmux. Why? Can I switch it back? If so, how? Does it make sense to do so? Any gotchas? Sep 24, 2023 · ZSH, an extended version of the Bourne Shell, offers new features, such as automatic cd, spelling correction, themes, and plugins. Alternatively, you can change the default shell graphically in System Settings under Users & Groups by Ctrl-Clicking your profile picture and selecting "Advanced Nov 30, 2021 · 357 I'm learning to develop in Rails, and have discovered the power of zsh. This is config tmux. Jun 8, 2019 · Other shells, like dash or zsh, leave it up to the OS, which would usually use /bin/sh instead. You can switch from zsh to bash on macOS Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, and Catalina after reading. I've set the global option: set -g default-shell /bin/zsh without success, any new pane is still opened with bash instead o zsh can compile scripts using the zcompile builtin, whereas bash lacks a compiler and has only an interpreter. Use Bash for: System administration: Bash is still the default shell on many Linux and macOS systems, and it’s widely used by system administrators. osx (shell to defaultProfile) but the new rule instead defaults to bash (at the time of this post) What actually happens is this: (got it by using the GUI instead) - it's the path. To set bash as your default login shell and interactive shell on macOS, follow these steps: Step 1. The article includes instructions for changing the login shell from the command line using chsh, or changing the shell only for a particular terminal application. In this article, we discuss how to install and use zsh shell features in Linux systems. Visual Studio Code's integrated terminal allows configuring various profiles to make launching various shells easier. This tutorial will help you for switching between Zsh and Bash on macOS systems. I have tried this code: sudo chsh -s $(which zsh) I've also tried: sudo chsh -s /bin/zsh Also tried these co 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. I will admit to one reason to not use zsh over bash but unless you're constantly working at multiple new installations it doesn't really apply. However, for some of my other tasks, I wish to use normal bash. Two of the most popular shells for Linux are the Bourne - Again SHell (Bash) and the Z Shell (Zsh). To change the default shell, you will need to modify the user’s configuration file, usually located at ~/. As a default bash user who want to switch from bash why should i use fish instead of zsh ? I was told fish and bash have… Aug 24, 2015 · To make it better, write exec zsh instead of zsh, this way, the bash process is completely replaced with a zsh process. But Catalina replaced it with zsh. It covers an overview of both shells, the steps for setting them up, Jan 11, 2017 · Explains how to set or change shell to bash (Bourne-again shell) on a Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, and Unix-like OS using the chsh command. Jun 6, 2025 · The Default Interactive Shell Is Now Zsh Currently, the default interactive shell in macOS is Zsh, but if you prefer Bash, the choice is yours. Jul 6, 2015 · Right now I have my iTerm session configured to use zsh (/usr/local/bin/zsh), but I'm trying to configure tmux to use zsh as well, instead of /bin/bash/, which it's currently defaulting to. I installed zsh and changed the default shell us For example I can't stand BASH and need to use ZSH, how do I make it so ZSH is loaded along with my profile (. In this comprehensive, beginner-friendly guide, we‘ll walk through how to install Z shell (ZSH), customize it with Oh My ZSH, add useful plugins and beautiful themes, and enable […] In the world of Linux, the command - line interface (CLI) is a powerful tool that allows users to interact directly with the operating system. 22 votes, 25 comments. If an alias isn’t out of the question that also works in some instances but not with nix-shell directly. bashrc or ~/. This guide provides simple steps and tips to make your shell transition smooth and swift. /bin/sh on macOS is, and probably will remain, a copy of /bin/bash, but executing bash with the name sh causes it to have different behaviour. Aug 21, 2025 · Open dlpuzhangyue opened on Aug 21 How to use Mac local environment zsh instead of bash～ 👍 1. This guide explores their pros and cons to help you determine which is best to use. Nov 21, 2022 · Table of Contents Apple is now using Zsh as the default shell on macOS. How to set gnome-terminal on Ubuntu server to use " bash " instead of " sh " when clicking " File " -> " New Tab "? If zsh is configured by the distro (like in Kali) zsh will be way much easier to use and learn than bash, with autocompletion and color-highlighting. zsh_profile) when I ssh to the machine. bashrc, so you should convert it into a new . Discover how to change from zsh to bash effortlessly. tmux. There’s a substantial amount (albeit not perfect) compatibility between bash and zsh BUT zsh has modern features that bash in macOS doesn’t have due to it being so outdated. How can I do that? I installed bash 4 on my MacBook. This tutorial guides users through installing and configuring Zsh, replacing Bash for a more intuitive, feature-rich terminal. Understanding the differences between them can help you choose the one that best Feb 13, 2019 · I installed zsh in my Ubuntu 18. Dec 29, 2021 · Recent versions of macOS now use zsh as the default command line shell. Using Bash on In my opinion the only reason to use bash is if you're working with a legacy linux package that hasn't been ported to something better. Sep 19, 2024 · Which means that my initial advice to you in the comments, to use the portable, standard . Zsh shell command languages, explore their differences, and see how to use both successfully. Ubuntu sudo apt install zsh Debian sudo apt-get install zsh Arch Linux Arch Linux actually uses the Z Shell by Apr 11, 2025 · Learn the key differences between Zsh and Bash—two powerful Unix shells. You can change the shell that new Terminal windows and tabs open with. bashrc is a file that runs bash commands. Feb 16, 2024 · From what I understand the Arch install package starts you out with a BASH Shell. Zsh is a particularly popular alternative, and there are other shells, like ash, dash, fish, and tcsh. It was initially created by Paul Falstad while he was a student and Princetown University and originally it was created incorporating many useful features from other Discover seamless ways to switch from bash to zsh and enhance your command line experience. This guide simplifies the transition while spotlighting zsh's powerful features. Zsh's tab-completion is colorized and more sophisticated than bash's. In June 2019, Apple announced that the forthcoming macOS Catalina (10. Jun 11, 2014 · I am using my school's computers and would like to use zsh instead of bash. Adding -c <shell> to a Mar 9, 2020 · Install Zsh Before using the Zsh shell in place of Bash, you’ll need to install it on your Linux PC. zsh}/bin/zsh” but tmux use default bash. Installing ZSH on Ubuntu or other Debian-based distros is as simple as running “sudo apt install zsh” and changing the default shell using “chsh -s $ (which zsh). Discover their unique features, customization options, scripting capabilities, and user preferences. This is because,unlike Windows, bash and zsh are easily accessible in other operating systems such as macOS and Linux. Feb 18, 2022 · Zsh is an extended version of the bash shell with added features and it is based on a similar shell as bash therefore bash commands are also applicable in zsh. bashrc to a . I typically use the bash shell on Linux servers, so I prefer using it on my Mac. Since it's based on the same shell as Bash, ZSH has many of the same features, and switching over is a breeze. Sep 24, 2014 · 44 You can't " export " your . zshrc. For interactive use, it is close to 100% compatible with bash syntax, but the interface has various quality of life improvements. In this post, I'll show you how to setup Zsh as your default shell. Sep 22, 2020 · Here's the solution: terminal. Aug 24, 2018 · ZSH, also called the Z shell, is an extended version of the Bourne Shell (sh), with plenty of new features, and support for plugins and themes. This is your straightforward way to boost performance and keep those pesky errors at bay. Using chsh is preferable anyway since it changes your shell everywhere, for instance when sshing into the machine as well. Warp supports popular shells across macOS, Windows, and Linux. If you favour linux, favour bash. To fully follow this post, you need to have zsh, oh-my-zsh and visual studio code… Aug 5, 2025 · This post guide you to change the default shell from zsh to bash on Mac step by step. Pro Tip: Some shared environments may restrict the usage of chsh commands for security purposes. bashrc from . You don't want portability here, so using source is better since you must use bash or zsh. You can't expect zsh to be able to run the bash commands in your . Discover which is better for scripting, performance, customization, and productivity in your terminal workflow. Actually, macOS used to default to bash a long time ago, but due to the change of bash’s license to GPLv3, Apple had to replace it. app" I want to run zsh so i need to change the default linux bash shell "terminal. This article will look at Bash vs Apr 27, 2014 · When tmux opens, I would like it to use zsh instead of bash by default. When running bash scripts inside zsh-Terminal I want it to use the homebrew bash version 4 instead of the default 3 of OS X. May 8, 2024 · Changing the Default Shell Once you have Bash installed, the next step is to change your default shell. How would I accomplish this? Jun 25, 2017 · Set and use Zsh as default shell in WSL on Windows 10 the right way A few months ago, I wrote an article to show how to get Zsh in WSL on Windows 10. brew install bash Feb 24, 2023 · sudo chsh -s /bin/sh You don’t need sudo for that, btw. Learn which shell aligns with your command-line needs in this comprehensive comparison. zsh is a package like many others, you can just run sudo apt install zsh and use it. There is a package GitHub - chisui/zsh-nix-shell: zsh plugin that lets you use zsh in nix-shell shells. It is essentially the same thing as bash but just has many additional features. instead of the bashsism source, was wrong. But I haven’t exactly shown how to make it For those that use zsh over bash, what specific feature/s over bash makes it worth it? I keep seeing people say they like it better but without much content on why. Luckily, as Zsh is one of the most well-known Bash alternatives, getting it is no problem. For this aim, use MacKeeper’s Memory Cleaner to refresh your Mac. How would I, if I could, go about installing and using ZSH as my core shell? If that is such a thing Or more appropriately, how would I install and default to ZSH in the installation process, instead of installing and calling it in the terminal after install? Last edited by R4vyn (2024-02-16 22:42:34) Nov 19, 2021 · Instead Apple wrote their own SMB protocol Windows networking software. There are others as well (e. e. 04 but didn't like it. 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. Scripting: Bash is ideal for scripting, particularly for use cases where compatibility is critical. I'd like to make it the default shell, but I cannot run a command such as $ chsh -s $(which zsh) because I don't have admin Oct 5, 2022 · It is possible in Ubuntu to change the default non-interactive ("system" shell) from Dash to Bash with sudo dpkg-reconfigure dash. Nov 12, 2022 · Bash and zsh both use the PS1 variable as the main setting for the prompt, but they have different escape sequences (backslash-character in bash, percent-character in zsh, and the second characters have different meanings). May 8, 2018 · Up to Ubuntu 22. /bin/sh will point to /bin/bash). But the trusty old Bash shell is still included with macOS, and you can quickly switch back to Bash if you prefer. How do I switch back and forth, or turn zsh on and off? Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac The default shell is zsh. Sep 25, 2009 · 276 Use: chsh Enter your password and state the path to the shell you want to use. b5y3 vyltd5p shvjlt u3ji 0t7c vac jcrjlhq o3yu2mt 0hw nmy6nd1