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Zsh (Z shell) is an extended Bourne shell with many features, including improved completion, spelling correction, and theming capabilities.
1

Install zsh

Install Zsh using the apt package manager:
sudo apt install zsh -y
This installs the latest version of Zsh available in your Ubuntu repositories.
2

Check version

Verify that Zsh was installed successfully:
zsh --version
You should see output similar to zsh 5.8.1 (x86_64-ubuntu-linux-gnu).
3

Set zsh as default shell

Change your default shell to Zsh:
chsh -s $(which zsh)
You’ll be prompted to enter your password to confirm the change.
4

Restart terminal

Close and reopen your terminal to start using Zsh as your default shell.Alternatively, you can start a new Zsh session without changing your default shell:
zsh

Verify the change

After restarting your terminal, verify that Zsh is your default shell:
echo $SHELL
You should see /usr/bin/zsh as the output.

Next Steps

Now that Zsh is installed, you can:
  • Install Oh My Zsh for enhanced functionality
  • Customize your shell prompt
  • Use Zsh-specific features like advanced completion
  • Install plugins for additional functionality

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