Arch Linux Shell Configuration

Arch Linux Shell Configuration Guide

Complete beginner-friendly guide to shell configuration on Arch Linux, including Bash, Zsh, Fish, and shell customization.

---

Table of Contents

1. Bash Configuration
2. Zsh Configuration
3. Fish Configuration
4. Shell Customization
5. Troubleshooting

---

Bash Configuration

Install Bash

Bash is default:

# Check version
bash --version

# Usually pre-installed

Configure Bash

Edit bashrc:

# Edit bashrc
vim ~/.bashrc

# Or bash_profile
vim ~/.bash_profile

Common settings:

# Aliases
alias ll='ls -alF'
alias la='ls -A'
alias l='ls -CF'

# Prompt
PS1='[\u@\h \W]\$ '

# History
HISTSIZE=1000
HISTFILESIZE=2000

---

Zsh Configuration

Install Zsh

Install Zsh:

# Install Zsh
sudo pacman -S zsh

# Change shell
chsh -s /bin/zsh

oh-my-zsh

Install oh-my-zsh:

# Install oh-my-zsh
sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh)"

# Configure
vim ~/.zshrc

Zsh Plugins

Install plugins:

# Edit zshrc
vim ~/.zshrc

# Add plugins
plugins=(git docker kubectl)

---

Fish Configuration

Install Fish

Install Fish:

# Install Fish
sudo pacman -S fish

# Change shell
chsh -s /bin/fish

Fish Configuration

Configure Fish:

# Create config
mkdir -p ~/.config/fish
vim ~/.config/fish/config.fish

---

Shell Customization

Prompt Customization

Bash prompt:

# Edit bashrc
PS1='\[\033[01;32m\]\u@\h\[\033[00m\]:\[\033[01;34m\]\w\[\033[00m\]\$ '

Zsh prompt:

# Use oh-my-zsh themes
# Edit ~/.zshrc
ZSH_THEME="robbyrussell"

Aliases

Create aliases:

# Add to shell config
alias update='sudo pacman -Syu'
alias clean='sudo pacman -Sc'
alias orphans='sudo pacman -Rns $(pacman -Qdtq)'

---

Troubleshooting

Shell Not Changing

Check shell:

# Check current shell
echo $SHELL

# Change shell
chsh -s /bin/zsh

# Log out and back in

---

Summary

This guide covered Bash, Zsh, Fish configuration, and shell customization.

---

Next Steps

• Arch Linux Terminal Emulators - Terminals
• Arch Linux System Configuration - System setup
• ArchWiki Shell Configuration: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Command-line_shell

---

This guide is based on the ArchWiki. For the most up-to-date information, always refer to the official ArchWiki.