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How To Set Up History-Based Autocompletion in Zsh
Yes, Oh My Zsh is awesome! That’s the first thing I installed when I switched from Bash to Zsh and I used it for a few years.
Past that time, I realized that in my daily use, the only features I was taking advantage was:
Autocompletion and history-based autocompletion using the arrow keys.
The fancy multi-line and colorful user prompt showing the working directory, and the switching color after the fail/success of the previous command execution.
The git repository info at the user prompt.
The z command, provided by the ZSH-z plugin.
I couldn’t help myself but thinking that the Oh My Zsh framework was much more than I needed. I decided to remove Oh My Zsh and reset Zsh from scratch, so I could configure and install only the features I needed.
This is a four-part post series explaining how to set up those features on a fresh new Zsh installation:
Customize Zsh Pt.1 - Autocompletion 👈
Zsh has a powerful completion system built-in by default. You need to load and initialize to take advantage of it. There is a lot to learn about it if you feel like going deeper but this post’s objectives are:
To enable the standard autocompletion.
To set up history-based autocompletion.
After a Zsh fresh install it runs a helper for the first time you log into the shell:
This is the Z Shell configuration function for new users,
zsh-newuser-install.
You are seeing this message because you have no zsh startup files
(the files .zshenv, .zprofile, .zshrc, .zlogin in the directory
~). This function can help you with a few settings that should
make your use of the shell easier.
You can:
(q) Quit and do nothing. The function will be run again next time.
(0) Exit, creating the file ~/.zshrc containing just a comment.
That will prevent this function being run again.
(1) Continue to the main menu.
-------- Type one of the keys in parentheses ---Avoid using the helper and apply the settings inside the .zshrc file, so:
Type 0 to exit the Zsh helper creating a blank .zshrc file in your $HOME directory.
To load and initialize the Zsh completion system, open the .zshrc file in your code editor and add the following line at the top of the file:
# AUTOCOMPLETION
# initialize autocompletion
autoload -U compinit && compinit(Learn more:
man zshcompsys and go to Use of compinit).zshrc file:
# history setup
setopt SHARE_HISTORY
HISTFILE=$HOME/.zhistory
SAVEHIST=1000
HISTSIZE=999
setopt HIST_EXPIRE_DUPS_FIRST(Read options and parameters descriptions:
man zshoptions and man zshparam)# autocompletion using arrow keys (based on history)
bindkey '\e[A' history-search-backward
bindkey '\e[B' history-search-forwardThe code above assumes that
[A is the value your terminal emulator sends for the keyboard up arrow, and that [B is the value for the keyboard down arrow.(Learn more:
man zshzle and go to ZLE BUILTINS for key bindings, and go to history-search-.).zshrc file again, in the Zsh shell type:
source ~/.zshrcAutocompletion is ready to go!
The final
.zshrc file must look like this:# AUTOCOMPLETION
# initialize autocompletion
autoload -U compinit
compinit
# history setup
setopt APPEND_HISTORY
setopt SHARE_HISTORY
HISTFILE=$HOME/.zhistory
SAVEHIST=1000
HISTSIZE=999
setopt HIST_EXPIRE_DUPS_FIRST
setopt EXTENDED_HISTORY
# autocompletion using arrow keys (based on history)
bindkey '\e[A' history-search-backward
bindkey '\e[B' history-search-forward
# GENERAL
# (bonus: Disable sound errors in Zsh)
# never beep
setopt NO_BEEPWith those simple steps autocompletion is ready and your Zsh shell is becoming more powerful.
Part 2 explores how to apply a simple configuration to improve the user prompt.
This post appeared first at alldrops.info.
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If you have any doubts or tips about this post, I’d appreciate knowing and discussing it in the comments section.
As English is not my native language, I apologize for the errors. Corrections are welcome.
Big thanks 🙌 to Eric Nielsen for pointing out some improvements in Zsh history settings.
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