sorin-ionescu
prezto
Shell

The configuration framework for Zsh

Last updated Jul 8, 2026
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README

Prezto โ€” Instantly Awesome Zsh

Prezto is the configuration framework for [Zsh][1]; it enriches the command line interface environment with sane defaults, aliases, functions, auto completion, and prompt themes.

Installation

Manual

Prezto will work with any recent release of Zsh, but the minimum required version is 4.3.11.

  • Launch Zsh:
zsh
  • Clone the repository:
git clone --recursive https://github.com/sorin-ionescu/prezto.git "${ZDOTDIR:-$HOME}/.zprezto"

Optional: Installing in $XDGCONFIGHOME

Optionally, if you already have $XDGCONFIGHOME configured (usually as $HOME/.config by default) and intend to install Prezto under $XDGCONFIGHOME/zsh instead, you can clone the repository there and configure $ZDOTDIR separately if not already configured.

- Clone the repository:

git clone --recursive https://github.com/sorin-ionescu/prezto.git "${ZDOTDIR:-${XDGCONFIGHOME:-$HOME/.config}/zsh}/.zprezto"

- Configure $XDGCONFIGHOME and $ZDOTDIR in $HOME/.zshenv:

export XDG_C
        [[ -d $XDGCONFIGHOME/zsh ]] && export ZDOTDIR="$XDGCONFIGHOME/zsh"
        source "$ZDOTDIR/.zshenv"

  • Create a new Zsh configuration by copying/linking the Zsh configuration
files provided:
setopt EXTENDED_GLOB
    for rcfile in "${ZDOTDIR:-$HOME}"/.zprezto/runcoms/^README.md(.N); do
      ln -s "$rcfile" "${ZDOTDIR:-$HOME}/.${rcfile:t}"
    done

Note: If you already have any of the given configuration files, ln in the above operation will cause an error. In simple cases, you can load Prezto by adding the line source "${ZDOTDIR:-$HOME}/.zprezto/init.zsh" to the bottom of your ${ZDOTDIR:-$HOME}/.zshrc and keep the rest of your Zsh configuration intact. For more complicated setups, we recommend that you back up your original configs and replace them with the provided Prezto [runcoms][10].

  • Set Zsh as your default shell:
chsh -s /bin/zsh
  • Open a new Zsh terminal window or tab.

Troubleshooting

If you are not able to find certain commands after switching to Prezto, modify the PATH variable in ${ZDOTDIR:-$HOME}/.zprofile then open a new Zsh terminal window or tab.

Updating

Run zprezto-update to automatically check if there is an update to Prezto. If there are no file conflicts, Prezto and its submodules will be automatically updated. If there are conflicts you will be instructed to go into the $ZPREZTODIR directory and resolve them yourself.

To pull the latest changes and update submodules manually:

cd $ZPREZTODIR
git pull
git submodule sync --recursive
git submodule update --init --recursive

Usage

Prezto has many features disabled by default. Read the source code and the accompanying README files to learn about what is available.

Modules

  • Browse [modules][9] to see what is available.
  • Load the modules you need in ${ZDOTDIR:-$HOME}/.zpreztorc and then open
a new Zsh terminal window or tab.

Themes

  • For a list of themes, type prompt -l.
  • To preview a theme, type prompt -p name.
  • Load the theme you like in ${ZDOTDIR:-$HOME}/.zpreztorc and then
open a new Zsh terminal window or tab.

![sorin theme][2] Note that the [git][11] module may be required for special symbols to appear, such as those on the right of the above image. Add 'git' to the pmodule list (under zstyle ':prezto:load' pmodule \ in your ${ZDOTDIR:-$HOME}/.zpreztorc) to enable this module.

External Modules

  • By default modules will be loaded from [/modules][9] and /contrib.
  • Additional module directories can be added to the
:prezto:load:pmodule-dirs setting in ${ZDOTDIR:-$HOME}/.zpreztorc.

Note that module names need to be unique or they will cause an error when loading.

zstyle ':prezto:load' pmodule-dirs $HOME/.zprezto-contrib

Customization

The project is managed via [Git][3]. We highly recommend that you fork this project so that you can commit your changes and push them to your fork on [GitHub][4] to preserve them. If you do not know how to use Git, follow this [tutorial][5] and bookmark this [reference][6].

Resources

The [Zsh Reference Card][7] and the [zsh-lovers][8] man page are indispensable.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

[1]: https://www.zsh.org [2]: https://i.imgur.com/nrGV6pg.png "sorin theme" [3]: https://git-scm.com [4]: https://github.com [5]: https://gitimmersion.com [6]: https://git.github.io/git-reference/ [7]: http://www.bash2zsh.com/zsh_refcard/refcard.pdf [8]: https://grml.org/zsh/zsh-lovers.html [9]: modules#readme [10]: runcoms#readme [11]: modules/git#readme

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