How do I install the Configuring Zsh skill?

Run npx skillmds add majiayu000/configuring-zsh in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Configuring Zsh safe to use?

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Which AI agents work with Configuring Zsh?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Configuring Zsh free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Configuring Zsh?

majiayu000 (@majiayu000) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Configuring Zsh by majiayu000 — Agent Skill

Name: Configuring Zsh
Rating: 4.666666666666667 (3 reviews)
Author: majiayu000

Configuring Zsh

Configure and troubleshoot Zsh shell. Use when editing .zshenv, .zprofile, .zshrc, .zlogin, or .zlogout, setting up powerlevel10k prompt, configuring oh-my-zsh or sheldon plugin manager, fixing PATH or environment variables, debugging slow shell startup, setting up completions/compinit/fpath, or working with zsh-autocomplete, zsh-autosuggestions, or zsh-syntax-highlighting plugins.

majiayu000 91f3505 2 files · 3.2 KB Updated Sep 9, 2026 567 repo stars

File contents

Zsh Shell Configuration

Quick Reference

Topic	Reference
Startup file order	startup-files.md
oh-my-zsh patterns	oh-my-zsh.md
powerlevel10k setup	powerlevel10k.md
sheldon plugin manager	sheldon.md
Plugin load order	plugins.md
Performance tuning	performance.md

Workflow Decision Tree

Need to...	Action
Set env vars / PATH / locales	Read `startup-files.md` → edit `.zshenv` or `.zprofile`
Configure aliases, keybinds, completions, prompt	Edit `.zshrc`
Fix performance issues	Read `performance.md` → profile startup
Add/configure plugins	Read `plugins.md` + relevant manager reference

Chezmoi Integration

Edit Zsh configs in the chezmoi source (this repo), not directly in ~
Respect {{ ... }} template blocks in files
Source naming: dot_zshrc → ~/.zshrc, private_dot_config/sheldon → ~/.config/sheldon
For chezmoi workflows, see managing-chezmoi skill

Default Guardrails

Keep .zshenv idempotent and fast; no external commands
No aliases/functions in .zshenv
Use typeset -gx VAR=... or export VAR=... with defensive checks
Set fpath before compinit; run compinit once only
Document plugin load order (especially zsh-autocomplete + zsh-syntax-highlighting)

Common Tasks

Task	Approach
Add env var	`.zshenv` (everywhere) vs `.zprofile` (login) vs `.zshrc` (interactive)
Fix PATH	Ensure ordering, remove duplicates, avoid `PATH=$PATH:...` in multiple files
Enable completions	Set `fpath` → `compinit` once → cache if needed
Add plugin	Choose manager → ensure correct load order
Setup p10k	Instant prompt block first in `.zshrc` → source `~/.p10k.zsh` after plugins

---name: configuring-zshdescription: Configure and troubleshoot Zsh shell. Use when editing .zshenv, .zprofile, .zshrc, .zlogin, or .zlogout, setting up powerlevel10k prompt, configuring oh-my-zsh or sheldon plugin manager, fixing PATH or environment variables, debugging slow shell startup, setting up completions/compinit/fpath, or working with zsh-autocomplete, zsh-autosuggestions, or zsh-syntax-highlighting plugins.--- # Zsh Shell Configuration ## Quick Reference | Topic | Reference | |-------|-----------| | Startup file order | [startup-files.md](references/startup-files.md) | | oh-my-zsh patterns | [oh-my-zsh.md](references/oh-my-zsh.md) | | powerlevel10k setup | [powerlevel10k.md](references/powerlevel10k.md) | | sheldon plugin manager | [sheldon.md](references/sheldon.md) | | Plugin load order | [plugins.md](references/plugins.md) | | Performance tuning | [performance.md](references/performance.md) | ## Workflow Decision Tree | Need to... | Action | |------------|--------| | Set env vars / PATH / locales | Read `startup-files.md` → edit `.zshenv` or `.zprofile` | | Configure aliases, keybinds, completions, prompt | Edit `.zshrc` | | Fix performance issues | Read `performance.md` → profile startup | | Add/configure plugins | Read `plugins.md` + relevant manager reference | ## Chezmoi Integration - Edit Zsh configs in the **chezmoi source** (this repo), not directly in `~` - Respect `{{ ... }}` template blocks in files - Source naming: `dot_zshrc` → `~/.zshrc`, `private_dot_config/sheldon` → `~/.config/sheldon` - For chezmoi workflows, see `managing-chezmoi` skill ## Default Guardrails - Keep `.zshenv` idempotent and fast; no external commands - No aliases/functions in `.zshenv` - Use `typeset -gx VAR=...` or `export VAR=...` with defensive checks - Set `fpath` before `compinit`; run `compinit` once only - Document plugin load order (especially `zsh-autocomplete` + `zsh-syntax-highlighting`) ## Common Tasks | Task | Approach | |------|----------| | Add env var | `.zshenv` (everywhere) vs `.zprofile` (login) vs `.zshrc` (interactive) | | Fix PATH | Ensure ordering, remove duplicates, avoid `PATH=$PATH:...` in multiple files | | Enable completions | Set `fpath` → `compinit` once → cache if needed | | Add plugin | Choose manager → ensure correct load order | | Setup p10k | Instant prompt block first in `.zshrc` → source `~/.p10k.zsh` after plugins |

Frequently asked questions