zsh Getting started with zsh Configuration

Example

When starting Zsh, it'll source the following files in this order by default:

1. /etc/zsh/zshenv Used for setting system-wide environment variables; it should not contain commands that produce output or assume the shell is attached to a tty. This file will always be sourced, this cannot be overridden.

2. $ZDOTDIR/.zshenv Used for setting user's environment variables; it should not contain commands that produce output or assume the shell is attached to a tty. This file will always be sourced.

3. /etc/zsh/zprofile Used for executing commands at start, will be sourced when starting as a login shell.

Note that on Arch Linux, by default it contains one line which source the /etc/profile.

/etc/profile This file should be sourced by all Bourne-compatible shells upon login: it sets up $PATH and other environment variables and application-specific (/etc/profile.d/*.sh) settings upon login.

4. $ZDOTDIR/.zprofile Used for executing user's commands at start, will be sourced when starting as a login shell.

5. /etc/zsh/zshrc Used for setting interactive shell configuration and executing commands, will be sourced when starting as a interactive shell.

6. $ZDOTDIR/.zshrc Used for setting user's interactive shell configuration and executing commands, will be sourced when starting as a interactive shell.

7. /etc/zsh/zlogin Used for executing commands at ending of initial progress, will be sourced when starting as a login shell.

8. $ZDOTDIR/.zlogin Used for executing user's commands at ending of initial progress, will be sourced when starting as a login shell.

9. $ZDOTDIR/.zlogout Will be sourced when a login shell exits.

10. /etc/zsh/zlogout Will be sourced when a login shell exits.

If $ZDOTDIR is not set, $HOME is used instead.

For general personal use, it is typical to edit the user's .zshrc file for personal preferences