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DistroZSH

A lightweight, framework-free, cross-distribution ZSH experience inspired by native Linux distributions.

The ZSH prompt every Linux distribution should have shipped.

Distributions · Features · Quick Start · Configuration · Layouts · FAQ · License

License ZSH 5.9+ Version ShellCheck Framework Free

Preview
Fedora
Ubuntu
Kali Linux
Arch Linux
Debian
openSUSE
Rocky Linux
AlmaLinux

The prompt automatically adopts the color of your distribution while keeping one consistent layout. The ◉ separator is DistroZSH's identity — it is not Kali's ㉿.

All screenshots are generated from the real prompt engine by scripts/preview.sh.

Supported Distributions

Official Support
Fedora Ubuntu Linux Mint Debian Kali Linux
Fedora Ubuntu Linux Mint Debian Kali Linux
Supported Supported Supported Supported Supported
Arch Linux Manjaro openSUSE Pop!_OS elementary OS
Arch Linux Manjaro openSUSE Pop!_OS elementary OS
Supported Supported Supported Supported Supported
Zorin OS Rocky Linux AlmaLinux
Zorin OS Rocky Linux AlmaLinux
Supported Supported Supported

Community Support
Nobara Ultramarine Bazzite CentOS Stream Oracle Linux
Nobara Ultramarine Bazzite CentOS Stream Oracle Linux
Supported Supported Supported Supported Supported
Garuda Linux CachyOS Artix Linux MX Linux Parrot OS
Garuda Linux CachyOS Artix Linux MX Linux Parrot OS
Supported Supported Supported Supported Supported
KDE neon Vanilla OS Peppermint OS
KDE neon Vanilla OS Peppermint OS
Supported Supported Supported

Unknown distributions automatically fall back to the neutral generic theme, and derivatives inherit the closest registered parent theme.

Why DistroZSH?

DistroZSH is not another Oh My Zsh. There is no framework, no plugin manager, no external prompt engine, and no Nerd Font requirement. Everything is implemented in native ZSH, and the only plugins loaded are the standalone plugins that Linux distributions already package.

Feature DistroZSH Oh My Zsh Starship Powerlevel10k Prezto Zinit
Framework-free ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌
Native ZSH prompt engine ✅ ✅ ❌ ❌ ✅ ❌
Auto theme per distribution ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌
Uses distribution plugin packages ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌
No Nerd Font requirement ✅ ✅ ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅
Installs via native package manager ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌
Fully reversible installer ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌
Startup time ms slow slow fast slow slow

Features

  • Automatic distribution detection — reads /etc/os-release (ID, ID_LIKE, NAME, PRETTY_NAME) at load time
  • Per-distribution color themes — Fedora blue, Ubuntu orange, Debian red, Kali green, Arch blue, openSUSE green, and 15 more
  • Four prompt layouts — kali (default two-line box), oneline, minimal, compact
  • User configuration without touching code — everything in ~/.config/distrozsh/config.zsh
  • Custom themes — drop a file in ~/.config/distrozsh/themes/ and you're done
  • Excellent completion — case-insensitive, colored, menu selection, cached
  • Smart history — deduplication, ignore-space, verification, full-history alias
  • Good key bindings — Emacs mode, word jumps, Ctrl+P to cycle layouts
  • Fast startup — no subprocesses in the prompt, everything built at load time
  • Works with any standard monospace font — Noto Sans Mono, JetBrains Mono, DejaVu Sans Mono, Fira Code

Not included (by design)

No battery indicator, no clocks, no CPU/RAM graphs, no Docker/Kubernetes widgets, no Powerline, no Nerd Fonts.

Quick Start

Prerequisites

  • zsh 5.9+
  • One of: dnf, apt, pacman, or zypper

Installation

git clone https://github.com/johnvexcoder/DistroZSH.git
cd DistroZSH
./install.sh

The installer will:

  1. Detect your distribution and package manager.
  2. Install zsh, zsh-autosuggestions and zsh-syntax-highlighting from your native repositories.
  3. Back up any existing ~/.zshrc.
  4. Install the engine to ~/.config/distrozsh/.
  5. Ask whether to make zsh your default shell.
./install.sh --shell      # install and change the default shell (no prompt)
./install.sh --no-shell   # install without changing the default shell
./install.sh --help       # full help

Start a new terminal (or run exec zsh) when the installer finishes.

Full guide with per-distribution notes: docs/INSTALLATION.md

Configuration

Everything user-facing lives in ~/.config/distrozsh/config.zsh:

DISTROZSH_THEME=auto        # auto, fedora, ubuntu, kali, arch, ... generic, or custom
DISTROZSH_LAYOUT=kali       # kali, oneline, minimal, compact
DISTROZSH_NEWLINE_BEFORE_PROMPT=no
DISTROZSH_SET_TITLE=yes
Setting Default Description
DISTROZSH_THEME auto auto detects from the running distribution; any theme name forces it
DISTROZSH_LAYOUT kali kali, oneline, minimal, compact
DISTROZSH_NEWLINE_BEFORE_PROMPT no print a blank line before each prompt
DISTROZSH_SET_TITLE yes set the terminal window title to user@host: dir
DISTROZSH_HISTFILE ~/.zsh_history history database location

See docs/THEMES.md and docs/LAYOUTS.md for the full catalog.

Layouts

Layout Prompt Style
kali (default) ┌──(user◉distro)-[~/path]
└─$
oneline user◉distro:~/path$
compact user@host:~/path$
minimal ~/path$

Cycle between layouts at any time with Ctrl+P.

Uninstallation

./uninstall.sh

Restores your previous ~/.zshrc, restores your previous default shell, saves your config.zsh, and removes the engine. It never uninstalls zsh or the plugins.

Customization

Create your own theme

cp themes/_template.zsh ~/.config/distrozsh/themes/mine.zsh
# edit the seven colors, then:
echo 'DISTROZSH_THEME=mine' >> ~/.config/distrozsh/config.zsh

Themes only define colors — never structure. See themes/_template.zsh.

Create your own layout

Copy a file from layouts/ into ~/.config/distrozsh/layouts/ and define the _distrozsh_prompt function.

Project Layout

DistroZSH/
├── .zshrc              # thin launcher (do not edit)
├── init.zsh            # engine bootstrap
├── config.zsh          # user configuration template
├── install.sh          # installer (dnf / apt / pacman / zypper)
├── uninstall.sh        # uninstaller (fully reversible)
├── zsh/                # engine modules (one concern per file)
├── themes/             # per-distribution color palettes
├── layouts/            # prompt structure definitions
├── scripts/            # distro-detect.sh, preview.sh, screenshot tooling
├── screenshots/        # generated preview matrix (PNG + ANSI)
├── img/                # distribution logos (official + community)
├── docs/               # installation, themes, layouts, FAQ
└── .github/            # workflows, issue + PR templates

Roadmap

See ROADMAP.md.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome. Please read CONTRIBUTING.md and our Code of Conduct.

Security

Found a problem? See SECURITY.md.

License

MIT © 2026 J0hn Vex Coder

Author

J0hn Vex Coder github.com/johnvexcoder

About

A lightweight, framework-free ZSH configuration that delivers a native, professional terminal experience across multiple Linux distributions.

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