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# Oh My Zsh: Customize Your Zsh Shell.
- URL: https://snubmonkey.com/oh-my-zsh-guide/
- Published: 2026-01-09T03:01:42.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-18T22:21:41.000Z
- Description: Learn what Oh My Zsh does, how its themes and plugins customize Zsh, and how to install it and set it as your default shell.
- Author: yannick Coffi
- Tags: shell 🛠️, linux 🐧, how to 🪄

If you use the terminal often, Oh My Zsh can make Zsh easier to customize. It provides a framework for managing themes, plugins, aliases, and settings.

##   
What is Zsh?

Zsh is a Unix shell and command interpreter, like Bash. It includes features such as programmable tab completion, advanced pattern matching, and a customizable command line.  

## What is Oh My Zsh?

Oh My Zsh is a community-maintained framework for configuring Zsh. It is not a shell itself. It helps organize settings, themes, and optional plugins so you can customize your shell without building a configuration from scratch.

## Key features

### Plugins

Oh My Zsh includes plugins for tools such as Git, Docker, and Kubernetes. Plugins can add aliases, functions, and command-specific completions. Enable only the plugins you need in `~/.zshrc`:

```
plugins=(git docker)
```

Plugin features vary, so check each plugin’s documentation.

### Themes

Themes change the appearance of your prompt. Oh My Zsh includes many themes, with `robbyrussell` as the default. Other themes, such as Powerlevel10k, must be installed separately. Some themes also need a compatible font to display correctly.

### Completion and suggestions

Zsh has a built-in programmable completion system, which Oh My Zsh configures and extends. Plugins can add completions for specific tools.

Command autosuggestions and syntax highlighting are usually provided by separate plugins; they are not built into Oh My Zsh by default.

##   
  
Install Oh My Zsh

First, install Zsh and the tools needed by the installer. For example:

```
$ sudo apt install zsh git curl  # Debian or Ubuntu

$ brew install zsh git           # macOS with Homebrew
```

Then follow the installation instructions in the [official Oh My Zsh repository](https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh?ref=snubmonkey.com). The installer downloads and runs a script, so make sure you are using the project’s official instructions.

**To make Zsh your default login shell**:

```
$ chsh -s "$(command -v zsh)"
```

Sign out and back in for the change to take effect. If the command fails, check that the Zsh path is listed in `/etc/shells`.

##   
  
Is Oh My Zsh safe to use?

Oh My Zsh is an established open-source project, but plugins and themes are shell code that runs as part of your shell startup. Use the official project source, review third-party additions, and enable only the plugins you trust and need.

## 

  
Oh My Zsh makes Zsh configuration easier with themes, plugins, and useful defaults. Start with a few plugins, learn what they add, and adjust your setup as your workflow changes.