Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

bpython VS zsh

Compare bpython VS zsh and see what are their differences

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bpython logo bpython

bpython is a fancy interface to the Python interpreter for Unix-like operating systems (I hear it...

zsh logo zsh

The Z shell (Zsh) is a Unix shell that can be used as an interactive login shell and as a powerful command interpreter for shell scripting.
  • bpython Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-03
  • zsh Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-09

bpython features and specs

  • Autocomplete Feature
    bpython offers an intelligent autocomplete feature that predicts and suggests completions for code, which can speed up development by reducing the amount of typing needed.
  • Syntax Highlighting
    This interpreter provides syntax highlighting, making it easier for developers to read and understand code by color-coding different elements such as keywords, strings, and variables.
  • Integrated Documentation
    bpython allows users to easily access Python documentation directly from the interpreter, which helps to quickly reference function signatures and documentation without leaving the environment.
  • Replay Functionality
    Users can replay their session to see what commands were run, helping to keep track of changes made during coding sessions, making debugging and learning from past sessions much easier.
  • Friendly User Interface
    bpython provides an enhanced console interface that is more user-friendly compared to the standard Python interpreter, with features like in-line syntax highlighting and color-coded warnings and errors.

Possible disadvantages of bpython

  • Limited Support for Advanced Features
    It might not support some of the advanced features and libraries that other more complex environments (like Jupyter or full IDEs) might provide, potentially limiting its use for more advanced programming tasks.
  • Performance Overhead
    The additional features like syntax highlighting and autocomplete can introduce some performance overhead, which might not be desirable for users who prefer a fast, minimalistic environment.
  • Dependency Management
    Since bpython runs within a terminal environment, managing dependencies can sometimes be cumbersome, especially when working with projects that require specific environments or packages.
  • Learning Curve for New Users
    While offering many useful features, new Python users might initially find the interface overwhelming or confusing compared to the traditional Python interpreter.
  • Stability Issues
    Some users might experience occasional stability issues or unexpected behavior when using bpython, particularly when experimenting with more complex Python code or environments.

zsh features and specs

  • Powerful Scripting
    zsh offers advanced scripting capabilities, including features like associative arrays, floating-point arithmetic, and powerful loops and conditionals, making it ideal for complex scripting tasks.
  • Customizability
    zsh provides extensive customization options. Users can personalize prompts, key bindings, and much more using various modules and plugins, such as oh-my-zsh.
  • Plugin Ecosystem
    The support for plugins in zsh, especially through frameworks like oh-my-zsh, allows users to easily add functionalities and enhance the shell experience, offering a rich ecosystem of community-contributed plugins.
  • Auto-suggestions and Command Correction
    zsh features intelligent auto-suggestions and command correction capabilities, which can drastically improve efficiency and reduce errors while typing commands.
  • Compatibility with Bash
    zsh is largely compatible with bash, meaning most bash scripts and commands will run without modification, facilitating a smoother transition for users migrating from bash.

Possible disadvantages of zsh

  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and customizability, zsh can be overwhelming for new users, requiring time to learn and configure effectively.
  • Initial Configuration
    Setting up zsh for the first time can be more complex compared to simpler shells like bash, especially when including frameworks like oh-my-zsh, which can require additional configuration.
  • Performance Overhead
    Loading many plugins and customizations can introduce a performance hit, making zsh slower to start compared to more lightweight shells.
  • Resource Consumption
    zsh, particularly with extensive customizations and plugins, can consume more system resources (memory and CPU) than simpler shells like bash.
  • Inconsistent Behavior with Legacy Scripts
    While zsh is largely compatible with bash, certain edge cases and legacy scripts might exhibit inconsistent behavior, potentially necessitating script rewrites or adjustments.

bpython videos

Bpython - alternative interactive python interpreter

More videos:

zsh videos

Working with Linux - Terminal, Zsh & Oh My Zsh

More videos:

  • Review - ZSH | A Better Shell
  • Review - You Really Don't Need Oh My Zsh And Here's Why (Rant)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to bpython and zsh)
Python IDE
100 100%
0% 0
Cryptocurrencies
0 0%
100% 100
Text Editors
100 100%
0% 0
Blockchain
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, bpython should be more popular than zsh. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

bpython mentions (7)

  • What dev tools do you use in your python projects?
    Yeah, also it's worth to mention bpython. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Release of IPython 8.0
    Yeah, mostly I lack time to catch up with Jonathan Slenders works, and have stronger backward compatibility requirements. b=But ptpython and pyipython are both great. I should also look into Rich and Textual https://bpython-interpreter.org/ is also another alternative python shell, and of course https://xon.sh. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • Need help setting up python on arch linux
    Python comes with IDLE as /usr/bin/idle but it doesn't have a corresponding .desktop file that would let it appear in the application menu. Otherwise, /usr/bin/python has an interactive mode and bpython is a wrapper around that interactive mode that has like syntax highlighting, indenting, undo, etc. Source: over 3 years ago
  • PyCharm console
    Someone posted bpython which I'm pretty ecstatic about but always good to know options. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • PyCharm console
    Someone else posted this - bpython - which is what I was looking for. Source: almost 4 years ago
View more

zsh mentions (1)

  • My developer workflow using WSL, tmux and Neovim
    Ubuntu by default comes with the bash shell. Bash is great but I personally find it harder to customize. That is why I use Z shell, more commonly known as zsh. To manage my zsh configuration, I use Oh My Zsh. It has a huge community and makes it trivial to install and use plugins. - Source: dev.to / almost 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing bpython and zsh, you can also consider the following products

iPython - iPython provides a rich toolkit to help you make the most out of using Python interactively.

fish shell - The friendly interactive shell.

IDLE - Default IDE which come installed with the Python programming language.

GNU Bourne Again SHell - Bash is the shell, or command language interpreter, that will appear in the GNU operating system.

ptpython - a better Python REPL

DASH - DASH is a secure, blockchain-based global financial network which offers private transactions.