Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

zsh VS GNU Bourne Again SHell

Compare zsh VS GNU Bourne Again SHell and see what are their differences

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.

GNU Bourne Again SHell logo GNU Bourne Again SHell

Bash is the shell, or command language interpreter, that will appear in the GNU operating system.
  • zsh Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-09
  • GNU Bourne Again SHell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-14

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.

GNU Bourne Again SHell features and specs

  • Compatibility
    Bash is highly compatible with sh, the original Bourne Shell, making it easy for users familiar with other Unix-like systems to adapt.
  • Scripting Capabilities
    Bash supports a wide range of scripting functionalities, including command substitution, variables, and control structures, making it powerful for complex scripting tasks.
  • Widespread Usage
    Bash is the default shell for many Linux distributions and macOS, ensuring widespread availability and community support.
  • Interactive Use
    Bash offers interactive features such as command line editing, history substitution, and tab completion, enhancing user productivity.
  • Strong Community and Resources
    There is a robust community around Bash, providing a wealth of resources including documentation, tutorials, and forums for support.

Possible disadvantages of GNU Bourne Again SHell

  • Performance Overhead
    When compared to newer shells like Zsh or Fish, Bash can have slower performance due to its older architecture and design.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Bash lacks some of the advanced features and improvements found in other modern shells, such as better autocomplete functionality and enhanced scripting syntax.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    The robust feature set of Bash can be overwhelming to new users, especially those unfamiliar with command-line interfaces.
  • Error Handling
    Bash scripts can be prone to errors if not carefully handled, as it has limited debugging facilities compared to languages specifically designed for scripting.

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)

GNU Bourne Again SHell videos

No GNU Bourne Again SHell videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to zsh and GNU Bourne Again SHell)
Cryptocurrencies
52 52%
48% 48
Blockchain
51 51%
49% 49
Cryptocurrency Wallets
54 54%
46% 46
Developer Tools
51 51%
49% 49

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, zsh seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time 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.

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 / over 2 years ago

GNU Bourne Again SHell mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of GNU Bourne Again SHell yet. Tracking of GNU Bourne Again SHell recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing zsh and GNU Bourne Again SHell, you can also consider the following products

fish shell - The friendly interactive shell.

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

PowerShell Plus - Learn how to learn and master PowerShell fast with an interactive learning center, a powerful IDE, pre-loaded scripts, and a PowerShell Editor… all for free.

KornShell - The KornShell language was designed and developed by David G. Korn at AT&T Bell Laboratories.

Elvish - Friendly and expressive Unix shell

CentminMod - Centmin Mod is a LEMP stack shell menu based auto installer.