People often ask: “Do you use zsh + oh-my-zsh on Linux every day? What about on Windows? You can’t just keep using the rigid cmd, right?”
Actually, Windows PowerShell 7 + Windows Terminal
can provide an experience comparable to zsh, with command completion, history search, fuzzy jumping, and cool themes all set up!
Today, I will share a “foolproof” configuration process that will transform your Windows terminal into a productivity tool.
- Why not use zsh?
To be honest, running zsh on Windows requires either WSL or Cygwin/MSYS2, which is not only troublesome but also may not be stable. Those who have tinkered with WSL know that there are many pitfalls; during development, I encountered an issue where the @types folder was empty when initializing a taro project, leading to type error prompts for my packages. I tried various methods, and even AI analysis couldn’t resolve it. Later, I switched to PowerShell and reinstalled the dependencies, which solved the problem.
PowerShell 7 is already very powerful, and with community modules and tool support, it can completely achieve an effect comparable to oh-my-zsh.
- Preparation
First, you need:
Windows Terminal (download directly from the Microsoft Store)
PowerShell 7 (don’t use the outdated built-in PowerShell 5.1, go to GitHub for the latest version)
- Install plugins; completion is essential
Execute the following in PowerShell:
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser -Force
Install-Module PSReadLine -Scope CurrentUser -Force # Command completion & history prediction
Install-Module posh-git -Scope CurrentUser -Force # Git status prompt
Install-Module PSFzf -Scope CurrentUser -Force # Fuzzy search
Install-Module z -Scope CurrentUser -Force # Quick directory jump
Having just these modules is not enough; you need a powerful tool:
<span>winget install fzf</span>
(fzf is the soul of fuzzy searching; after installation, you can soar with Ctrl+R and Ctrl+T)
- Your terminal should also look good
In the Linux world, everyone uses powerlevel10k, and on Windows, we have <span>oh-my-posh</span>:
<span>winget install JanDeDobbeleer.OhMyPosh -s winget</span>
It can help you display git branches, time, Python virtual environments, etc., making the terminal no longer cold and lifeless.
- One-click configuration
All configurations are written in <span>$PROFILE</span> (equivalent to Linux’s <span>~/.zshrc</span>).
Execute:
<span>notepad $PROFILE</span>
Paste the following content:
Import-Module PSReadLine
Import-Module posh-git
Import-Module PSFzf
Import-Module z
## Command completion & history prediction
Set-PSReadLineOption -PredictionSource HistoryAndPlugin
Set-PSReadLineOption -PredictionViewStyle ListView
Set-PSReadLineKeyHandler -Key Tab -Function MenuComplete
Set-PSReadLineOption -EditMode Emacs # Ctrl+R search history
## oh-my-posh theme
oh-my-posh init pwsh --config "$env:POSH_THEMES_PATH\jandedobbeleer.omp.json" | Invoke-Expression
Save and exit, then restart Windows Terminal.
Boom! Your terminal is now different.
- Usage effects
-
<span>Tab</span>→ Intelligent completion -
<span>Ctrl+R</span>→ Fuzzy search history commands -
<span>Ctrl+T</span>→ Fuzzy file search -
<span>z project</span>→ Instantly jump to your frequently visited directories -
The command prompt looks stunning
This experience is basically the Windows version of zsh + oh-my-zsh.
Conclusion
In fact, many people still think of the Windows terminal as “poor” and “not as good as Linux”.
But if you have used Windows Terminal + PowerShell 7 + this configuration, you will find it is a completely different world:
Smooth completion, efficient searching, and stunning visuals.
If you are also developing on Windows, just copy the commands above into the terminal, and you can experience this “upgraded terminal”; you will definitely love it.