Bash vs Zsh: What’s the Difference? Why Developers Love Zsh (and When to Avoid It)
Starting with macOS Catalina, Apple changed the default shell from Bash to Zsh. Since then, many developers have wondered: What’s the difference between Bash and Zsh? and Should I switch?
In this post, we’ll explore the key differences, what makes Zsh awesome, and also why it might not be perfect for everyone.
🐚 What Is Bash?
Bash (Bourne Again SHell) is a Unix shell developed by the GNU Project. It’s been the default shell on most Linux systems for decades and was also the default on macOS until 2019.
Key strengths:
- Lightweight and stable
- POSIX-compliant scripting
- Universally supported, even on older servers
⚡ What Is Zsh?
Zsh (Z Shell) is a modern shell that builds on the traditional Bourne shell (sh), adding powerful features for usability, customization, and productivity.
Zsh became the default shell in macOS Catalina (2019) and is increasingly popular among developers.
🔍 Bash vs Zsh: What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Bash | Zsh |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-completion | Basic | Smart contextual suggestions |
| Theme customization | Minimal | Full theme support via oh-my-zsh |
| Plugin support | Requires manual setup | Rich plugin system |
| Scripting features | POSIX standard | More powerful arrays, globbing |
| Setup simplicity | Simple defaults | Needs some initial customization |
✨ What Zsh Can Do (That Bash Struggles With)
✅ Smarter Autocompletion
Zsh offers rich autocompletion:
- Supports commands like
git,docker,kubectlwith subcommands and options. - Tab-completion suggests files, flags, even paths with typos.
✅ Syntax Highlighting
- With plugins like
zsh-syntax-highlighting, you get real-time color feedback while typing.
✅ Autosuggestions
- With
zsh-autosuggestions, Zsh predicts the next command based on history.
✅ Flexible Globbing
1
ls **/*.md
This lists all Markdown files recursively — something not native in Bash.
✅ Customizable Prompt Themes
1
2
# Set in ~/.zshrc
ZSH_THEME="agnoster"
Git branch, command status, and timers can be shown in your prompt.
❤️ Why Developers Love Zsh
- Faster workflows: Tab and history suggestions reduce keystrokes
- Eye-friendly UI: Syntax colors and customizable themes
- Highly extensible: Plugins for Git, Docker, AWS, fzf, etc.
- Mac-friendly: Pre-installed and supported by default since macOS Catalina
⚠️ Downsides of Zsh
| Weakness | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Initial config setup | Takes time to customize themes and plugins |
| Script compatibility issues | Bash scripts may not always run properly in Zsh |
| Slight learning curve | Power features come with some complexity |
🤔 So… Should You Use Zsh or Bash?
| Use Bash if… | Use Zsh if… |
|---|---|
| You write POSIX-compatible scripts | You want a more modern, productive shell |
| You work on legacy Linux systems | You use macOS or work in modern dev tools |
| You prefer simplicity over features | You want rich suggestions and themes |
Zsh is a modern, productivity-focused shell that significantly improves the CLI experience. If you haven’t tried it yet, now might be the perfect time to give your terminal superpowers.