Zsh vs Bash: What’s the Difference?

As a system administrator or a developer, you’ve likely heard of both zsh and bash. These two Unix shells are some of the most widely used and popular in the world and for a good reason. Both have unique features and capabilities, and choosing the right one for your needs can significantly affect your productivity and workflow.

In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at both zsh and bash, comparing their features, benefits, and drawbacks. We’ll cover everything from installation and setup, to customizing and configuring each shell, to using advanced features and tools.

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 for you.

What is a Unix Shell?

Before we dive into the specifics of zsh and bash, it’s essential to understand precisely what a Unix shell is and how it works.

A Unix shell is a command-line interface (CLI) that allows users to interact with the operating system and execute commands. It provides a way to navigate the file system, run programs, and perform various tasks from the command line.

There are several different Unix shells available, including zsh, bash, ksh, and csh, to name a few. Each has unique features and capabilities, and users can choose the one that best fits their needs and preferences.

What is Zsh?

Zsh (short for “Z shell”) is a Unix shell developed by Paul Falstad in 1990. It was designed to be a more feature-rich and user-friendly alternative to the Bourne shell (sh), which was the default shell on many Unix-like systems at the time.

One of the main benefits of zsh is its advanced command-line editing capabilities. It includes features such as automatic spelling correction, history expansion, and tab completion, making it easier and faster to enter commands.

In addition to its command line editing features, zsh also includes some other valuable features, such as:

• Customizable prompts
• Built-in support for themes and plugins
• Enhanced globbing (wildcard matching)
• Advanced autocorrection
• Improved command history

Overall, zsh is a powerful and feature-rich Unix shell popular among developers and system administrators for its advanced capabilities and user-friendly interface.

What is Bash?

Bash (short for “Bourne-again shell”) is a Unix shell developed by Brian Fox in 1989. 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.

Like zsh, bash includes several advanced features and capabilities, such as command line editing, customizable prompts, and support for themes and plugins. However, it lacks some of the more advanced features of zsh, such as improved globbing and auto-correction.

One of the main benefits of bash is its widespread adoption and support. It is the default shell on many popular operating systems and is included on most Linux distributions and macOS. This makes it a familiar and convenient choice for many users.

Installation and Setup

Now that we’ve covered the basics of zsh and bash, let’s look at how to install and set up each shell on your system.

Installing Zsh

To install zsh on your system, follow these steps:

• Check if zsh is already installed by running the zsh --version command. If zsh is already installed, you should see the version number displayed.
• If zsh is not installed, use your system’s package manager to install it. On Debian-based systems (such as Ubuntu or Linux Mint), you can use the apt-get command:

sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install zsh

• On Red Hat-based systems (such as CentOS or Fedora), you can use the yum command:

sudo yum update sudo yum install zsh

• Once zsh is installed, you can start using it by running the zsh command. You can also make zsh your default shell by running the chsh command and specifying the path to the zsh executable:

chsh -s /usr/bin/zsh

• Log out, log back in to apply the change, and use zsh as your default shell.

Note: These instructions are for Linux systems. The steps for installing zsh may vary if you use a different operating system.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to ZSH History

Installing Bash

To install bash on your system, follow these steps:

• Check if bash is already installed by running the bash --version command. If bash is already installed, you should see the version number displayed.
• If bash is not installed, use your system’s package manager to install it. On Debian-based systems (such as Ubuntu or Linux Mint), you can use the apt-get command:

sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install bash

On Red Hat-based systems (such as CentOS or Fedora), you can use the yum command:

sudo yum update sudo yum install bash

• Once bash is installed, you can start using it by running the bash command. You can also make bash your default shell by running the chsh command and specifying the path to the bash executable:

chsh -s /usr/bin/bash

• Log out, log back in to apply the change, and use bash as your default shell.

Note: These instructions are for Linux systems. The steps for installing bash may vary if you use a different operating system.

Customization and Configuration

Once you have zsh or bash installed and set up on your system, you’ll likely want to customize and configure it to suit your needs and preferences. Both zsh and bash offer several customization options, including changing the prompt, adding aliases, and setting environment variables.

Customizing the Prompt

One of the most common customization tasks is changing the prompt, which is the text that appears in the command line to indicate that the shell is ready for input. Both zsh and bash allow you to customize the prompt by setting the PS1 environment variable.

To customize the prompt in zsh, you can use the PROMPT variable. For example, to set the prompt to $, you can use the following command:

PROMPT='$' 

To customize the prompt in bash, you can use the PS1 variable. For example, to set the prompt to $, you can use the following command:

PS1='$ '

Both zsh and bash offer special characters and variables that you can use to customize the prompt further. For example, using certain variables, you can include the current working directory, the current user, or the current time in the prompt.

Adding Aliases

Another common customization task is adding aliases, which are short commands that expand to longer commands or sequences. Aliases can help frequently simplify used or complex commands or create custom commands.

To add an alias in zsh, you can use the alias command. For example, to create an alias for the ls -la command, you can use the following command:

alias ll='ls -la'

To add an alias in bash, you can add it to the .bashrc file in your home directory. For example, to create an alias for the ls -la command, you can add the following line to your .bashrc file:

alias ll='ls -la' 

Both zsh and bash allow you to create as many aliases as you like, and you can use them just like regular commands.

Setting Environment Variables

Environment variables are named values that can store information and configure the shell and other programs. Both zsh and bash allow you to set environment variables using the export command.

To set an environment variable in zsh, you can use the following syntax:

export VARNAME='value'

To set an environment variable in bash, you can use the same syntax:

export VARNAME='value'

You can use environment variables to store a wide range of information, such as the location of specific directories or programs, or user-specific settings.

Advanced Features and Tools

Both zsh and bash offer several advanced features and tools that can help you work more efficiently and effectively. This section will look at some of the more advanced features and tools available in each shell.

Zsh Features

Some of the advanced features available in zsh include:

• Completion: Zsh includes advanced tab completion capabilities to help you quickly and accurately enter commands and arguments.
• Globbing: Zsh offers enhanced globbing capabilities, allowing you to use wildcard characters to match filenames.
• Themes and Plugins: Zsh includes built-in support for themes and plugins, allowing you to customize and extend the shell’s capabilities. There are several useful plugins and themes available for zsh, such as Oh My Zsh, which includes a variety of plugins and themes for customizing your shell experience.
• Functions: Zsh allows you to define your functions and custom commands to execute a series of commands or perform a specific task. You can use functions to automate repetitive tasks or create custom commands.
• History Expansion: Zsh includes a history expansion feature that allows you to recall and reuse previously entered commands easily. You can use special characters to access and manipulate your command history, such as !$ to recall the last argument of the previous command or !! to recall the previous command itself.
• Autocorrection: Zsh includes an advanced autocorrection feature that can automatically correct common spelling mistakes and typos in commands. This can help you enter commands more quickly and accurately and reduce the risk of errors.

Bash Features

Some of the advanced features available in bash include:

• Scripting: Bash includes a powerful scripting language that allows you to automate tasks and create custom scripts.
• History: Bash includes a command history feature that allows you to recall and reuse previously entered commands easily.
• Job Control: Bash allows you to control the execution of programs and processes, including suspending, continuing, and terminating them.
• Aliases: Bash allows you to create aliases, which are short commands that expand to longer commands or sequences of commands. Aliases can help frequently simplify used or complex commands or create custom commands.
• Shell Variables: Bash includes special variables that can store and manipulate information. For example, the $PATH variable stores the directories that the shell searches for executables, and the $HOME variable stores the path to the user’s home directory.
• Conditional Statements: Bash includes support for conditional statements, which allow you to execute commands based on certain conditions. This can be useful for creating scripts that perform different actions based on user input or the result of a command.
• Functions: Bash also allows you to define your functions and custom commands to execute a series of commands or perform a specific task. You can use functions to automate repetitive tasks or create custom commands.

Zsh Tools

There are some useful tools and utilities available for zsh, including:

• Oh My Zsh: Oh My Zsh is a popular open-source framework for managing and customizing zsh. It includes a variety of plugins and themes that can help you customize and enhance your zsh experience.
• Zsh Autosuggestions: Zsh Autosuggestions is a plugin for zsh that suggests commands as you type, based on your command history and the directories you frequent.
• Zsh Syntax Highlighting: Zsh Syntax Highlighting is a plugin for zsh highlighting different parts of the command line for easier readability.

Bash Tools

There are also some useful tools and utilities available for bash, including:

• Bash Completion: Bash Completion is a tool that provides tab completion for various commands and arguments.
• Bash History: Bash History is a utility that allows you to view, search, and manipulate your command history.
• Bash Profile: Bash Profile is a file that allows you to customize and configure your bash shell, including setting environment variables and adding aliases.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve compared the features and capabilities of zsh and bash, two of the most popular Unix shells. We’ve covered everything from installation and setup to customization and configuration to advanced features and tools.

Ultimately, the choice between zsh and bash comes down to personal preference and the specific needs of your workflow. Zsh offers some advanced features and tools that may be helpful for developers and power users, while bash is a more standard and widely supported option.

Regardless of which shell you choose, it’s important to familiarize yourself with its features and capabilities and to take advantage of the tools and resources available to help you work more efficiently and effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I switch from bash to zsh?

To switch from bash to zsh, follow these steps:

• Install zsh on your system. You can do this using your system’s package manager, such as apt-get on Debian-based systems or yum Red Hat-based systems.
• Make zsh your default shell by running the chsh command and specify the path to the zsh executable. For example:

chsh -s /usr/bin/zsh

1. Log out and log back in to apply the change.

How do I customize zsh or bash?

Some ways to customize zsh and bash include changing the prompt, adding aliases, and setting environment variables. You can also use frameworks like Oh My Zsh (for zsh) or Bash Profile (for bash) to easily manage and customize your shell.

Can I use bash scripts in zsh, or vice versa?

Generally speaking, you can use bash scripts in zsh, and zsh scripts in bash. However, some features or syntax may not be compatible between the two shells, so it’s always a good idea to test your scripts before using them in a different shell.

What are the differences between zsh and bash?

Some of the main differences between zsh and bash include the following:

• Zsh includes advanced command line editing features, such as spelling correction and history expansion, that are unavailable in bash.
• Zsh has better support for themes and plugins and includes useful tools and utilities that can help you customize and enhance your shell experience.
• Bash is the default shell on many popular operating systems, including Linux and macOS, and it is more widely supported and familiar to many users.

Which is better, zsh or bash?

The choice between zsh and bash ultimately comes down to personal preference and the specific needs of your workflow. Both shells offer some advanced features and capabilities, and the right choice for you will depend on which features and tools are most important to you.