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The zb reset command completely removes all zerobrew data directories and reinitializes a fresh installation.
This is a destructive operation that will delete all installed packages, cached data, and store entries. This action cannot be undone.

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Usage

zb reset [OPTIONS]

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Options

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--yes
flag
Skip the confirmation prompt and proceed with reset immediately. Use with caution.
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-y
flag
Short form of --yes.

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Description

The reset command performs a complete cleanup and reinitialization of zerobrew:
  1. Removes all content from ZEROBREW_ROOT directory (store, cache, metadata)
  2. Removes all content from ZEROBREW_PREFIX directory (symlinks, binaries)
  3. Reinitializes the directory structure
  4. Leaves you with a clean installation ready for fresh package installs
If the directories don’t exist, the command will report “Nothing to reset” and exit successfully.

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Permission Handling

The reset command intelligently handles permission issues:
  • First attempts to remove directory contents without elevated privileges
  • If permission denied and running interactively, falls back to sudo rm -rf
  • If permission denied in non-interactive mode, exits with an error
  • Does not require sudo to recreate the directory structure after cleanup

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Interactive Mode (Default)

By default, the command prompts for confirmation before proceeding: 
zb reset
You’ll see: 
Warning: This will delete all zerobrew data at:
      • /Users/username/.zerobrew
      • /Users/username/.zerobrew-prefix
Continue? [y/N]
Type y and press Enter to proceed, or n (or anything else) to abort.

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Non-Interactive Mode

For scripts or automation, use the --yes flag to skip the confirmation: 
zb reset --yes
Or the short form: 
zb reset -y
When using --yes or -y, the command proceeds immediately without any confirmation. Use this flag carefully, especially in scripts.

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Examples

Reset with confirmation prompt: 
zb reset
Reset without confirmation (use carefully): 
zb reset --yes
Reset in a shell script: 
#!/bin/bash
echo "Cleaning up zerobrew installation..."
zb reset -y
echo "Starting fresh installation..."
zb install node python git

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Output

During reset: 
Warning: This will delete all zerobrew data at:
      • /Users/username/.zerobrew
      • /Users/username/.zerobrew-prefix
Continue? [y/N] y
==> Clearing /Users/username/.zerobrew...
==> Clearing /Users/username/.zerobrew-prefix...
==> Reset complete. Ready for cold install.
When directories don’t exist: 
Nothing to reset - directories do not exist.

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Use Cases

Reset zerobrew when you need to:
  • Fix a corrupted installation
  • Start completely fresh after testing
  • Clear all packages and cached data
  • Troubleshoot persistent issues
  • Free up all disk space used by zerobrew

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What Gets Removed

The reset command removes:
  • All installed packages
  • Content-addressed store entries
  • Formula cache and API cache
  • Package metadata and lock files
  • Binary symlinks in prefix directory
  • Installation manifests

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What Gets Preserved

The reset command does NOT modify:
  • Shell configuration files (e.g., .bashrc, .zshrc)
  • PATH modifications made during zb init
  • User files outside zerobrew directories
After running zb reset, your shell PATH will still reference the zerobrew directories. You don’t need to run zb init again - you can immediately start installing packages.

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Recovery

There is no built-in recovery mechanism for reset. If you need to preserve your package list: 
# Before reset, save your package list
zb list > my-packages.txt

# After reset, reinstall packages
zb install $(cat my-packages.txt)
Or use Brewfile with bundle: 
# Before reset
zb bundle dump

# After reset
zb bundle install
  • zb init - Initialize zerobrew (automatically run by reset)
  • zb gc - Remove unreferenced store entries without full reset
  • zb uninstall - Remove specific packages
  • zb bundle dump - Save package list to Brewfile

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