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Santhosh Veer
Santhosh Veer

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Install Zsh Ubuntu Install Z-shell (Oh My Zsh) on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS

#ubuntu #zsh #ohmyzsh #zshell

Z-shell for Ubuntu

  • Update the packages 
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt upgrade
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  • Install prerequisite packages (ZSH, powerline & powerline fonts) 
sudo apt install zsh
sudo apt-get install powerline fonts-powerline
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  • Clone the Oh My Zsh Respo 
git clone https://github.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh.git ~/.oh-my-zsh
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  • Create a New ZSH configuration file 
cp ~/.oh-my-zsh/templates/zshrc.zsh-template ~/.zshrc
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  • Set up a Fancy theme for your Terminal - Open .zshrc File using nano editor 
nano .zshrc
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  • Find the line ZSH_THEME="robbyrussell" replace robbyrussell with agnoster theme in .zshrc File (CTRL + X & Enter to Save) 
ZSH_THEME="agnoster"
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  • Change your Default Shell 
chsh -s /bin/zsh
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cd .oh-my-zsh
upgrade_oh_my_zsh
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Want Syntax Highlighting? install ZSH Syntax Highlighting for Oh My Zsh

  • Clone the ZSH Syntax Highlighting 
git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting.git "$HOME/.zsh-syntax-highlighting" --depth 1
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  • Add syntax-highlighting in .zshrc Configuration 
echo "source $HOME/.zsh-syntax-highlighting/zsh-syntax-highlighting.zsh" >> "$HOME/.zshrc"
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Revert Back to Default Shell 

chsh -s /bin/bash
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Top comments (14)

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Sloan, the sloth mascot
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jtmchorse profile image
JT McHorse •

exec zsh will also work

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zulhfreelancer profile image
Zulhilmi Zainudin •

For AWS Lightsail users, this one worked for me:

sudo chsh -s /usr/bin/zsh $(whoami)

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Ruan •

Better post about zsh and oh my zsh that i've ever seen.

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appsparkler profile image
Akash •

chsh -s /usr/bin/zsh

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mberneti profile image
mohammadreza berneti •

great

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Rong Sen Ng •

Thank you. Straightforward guide ever!

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Suryaa Jha •

This is my go-to article whenever I need to set up a machine with Zsh.
Fantastic article

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amdev profile image
a_m_dev •

chsh -s /bin/bash username

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Ivan dos Reis Andrade •

After struggling to have this working on my machines with random guides from the internet... everything is much clearer now.
Very good explanation.

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Listiananda Apriliawan •

Thank you. It works for me.

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