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diff --git a/content/blog/2022-07-31-bash-it.md b/content/blog/2022-07-31-bash-it.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a12054b --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2022-07-31-bash-it.md @@ -0,0 +1,243 @@ ++++ +date = 2022-07-31 +title = "Upgrade Bash with Bash-It and Ble.sh" +description = "" +draft = false ++++ + +# Bash + +For those who are not familiar, +[Bash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bash_(Unix_shell)) is a Unix shell +that is used as the default login shell for most Linux distributions. +This shell and command processor should be familiar if you\'ve used +Linux (or older version of macOS) before. + +However, bash is not the only option. There are numerous other shells +that exist. Here are some popular examples: + +- [zsh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z_shell) +- [fish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_(Unix_shell)) +- [oksh](https://github.com/ibara/oksh) +- [mksh](https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Mksh) +- [dash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian_Almquist_shell) + +While each shell has its differences, bash is POSIX compliant and the +default for many Linux users. Because of this, I am going to explore a +program called `bash-it` below that helps bash users increase +the utility of their shell without installing a completely new shell. + +## Installation + +First, if bash is not already installed on your system, you can +[download bash from GNU](https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/) or use your +package manager to install it. + +For example, this is how you can install bash on Fedora Linux: + +```sh +sudo dnf install bash +``` + +If you are not using bash as your default shell, use the +`chsh` command to change your shell: + +```sh +chsh +``` + +You should see a prompt like the one below. If the brackets +(`[]`) contain `bash` already, you\'re done, and +you can simply continue by hitting the Enter key. + +If the brackets contain another shell path (e.g. +`/usr/bin/zsh`), enter the path to the bash program on your +system (it\'s most likely located at `/usr/bin/bash`). + +```sh +Changing shell for <user>. +New shell [/usr/bin/bash]: +``` + +You must log out or restart the machine in order for the login shell to +be refreshed. You can do it now or wait until you\'re finished +customizing the shell. + +```sh +sudo reboot now +``` + +# Bash-it + +As noted on the [Bash-it](https://github.com/Bash-it/bash-it) +repository: + +> Bash-it is a collection of community Bash commands and scripts for +> Bash 3.2+. (And a shameless ripoff of oh-my-zsh 😃) + +Bash-it makes it easy to install plugins, set up aliases for common +commands, and easily change the visual theme of your shell. + +## Installation + +To install the framework, simply copy the repository files and use the +`install.sh` script provided. If you want, you can (and +should!) inspect the contents of the installation script before you run +it. + +```sh +git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/Bash-it/bash-it.git ~/.bash_it +~/.bash_it/install.sh +``` + +If you didn\'t restart your session after making bash the default, and +are currently working within another shell, be sure to enter a bash +session before using `bash-it`: + +```sh +bash +``` + +## Aliases + +Bash-it contains a number of aliases for common commands to help improve +efficiency in the terminal. To list all available options, use the +following command: + +```sh +bash-it show aliases +``` + +This will provide you a list that looks like the following text block. +Within this screen, you will be able to see all available options and +which ones are currently enabled. + +``` txt +Alias Enabled? Description +ag [ ] the silver searcher (ag) aliases +ansible [ ] ansible abbreviations +apt [ ] Apt and dpkg aliases for Ubuntu and Debian distros. +atom [ ] Atom.io editor abbreviations +bash-it [ ] Aliases for the bash-it command (these aliases are automatically included with the "general" aliases) +bolt [ ] puppet bolt aliases +bundler [ ] ruby bundler +clipboard [ ] xclip shortcuts +composer [ ] common composer abbreviations +curl [x] Curl aliases for convenience. +... +``` + +To enable an alias, do: + +```sh +bash-it enable alias <alias name> [alias name]... -or- $ bash-it enable alias all +``` + +To disable an alias, do: + +```sh +bash-it disable alias <alias name> [alias name]... -or- $ bash-it disable alias all +``` + +## Plugins + +Similar to aliases, plugins are available with bash-it. You can find a +complete list of plugins in the same way as aliases. Simply execute the +following: + +```sh +bash-it show plugins +``` + +You will see the following output showing enabled and disabled plugins: + +``` txt +Plugin Enabled? Description +alias-completion [ ] +autojump [ ] Autojump configuration, see https://github.com/wting/autojump for more details +aws [ ] AWS helper functions +base [x] miscellaneous tools +basher [ ] initializes basher, the shell package manager +battery [x] display info about your battery charge level +blesh [ ] load ble.sh, the Bash line editor! +boot2docker [ ] Helpers to get Docker setup correctly for boot2docker +browser [ ] render commandline output in your browser +``` + +To enable a plugin, do: + +```sh +bash-it enable plugin <plugin name> [plugin name]... -or- $ bash-it enable plugin all +``` + +To disable a plugin, do: + +```sh +bash-it disable plugin <plugin name> [plugin name]... -or- $ bash-it disable plugin all +``` + +## Themes + +There are quite a few pre-defined +[themes](https://bash-it.readthedocs.io/en/latest/themes-list/#list-of-themes) +available with bash-it. + +To list all themes: + +```sh +ls ~/.bash_it/themes/ +``` + +To use a new theme, you\'ll need to edit `.bashrc` and alter +the `BASH_IT_THEME` variable to your desired theme. For +example, I am using the `zork` theme. + +```sh +nano ~/.bashrc +``` + +```sh +export BASH_IT_THEME='zork' +``` + +Once you save your changes, you just need to exit your terminal and +create a new one in order to see your changes to the +`.bashrc` file. You can also `source` the file to +see changes, but I recommend starting a completely new shell instead. + +### ble.sh + +One big feature I was missing in Bash that both `zsh` and +`fish` have is an autosuggestion feature. To explain: as you +type, an autosuggestion feature in the shell will offer suggestions in a +lighter font color beyond the characters already typed. Once you see the +command you want, you can click the right arrow and have the shell +auto-complete that line for you. + +Luckily, the [Bash Line Editor](https://github.com/akinomyoga/ble.sh) +(ble.sh) exists! This program provides a wonderful autosuggestions +feature perfectly, among other features that I haven\'t tested yet. + +In order to install ble.sh, execute the following: + +```sh +git clone --recursive https://github.com/akinomyoga/ble.sh.git +make -C ble.sh install PREFIX=~/.local +echo 'source ~/.local/share/blesh/ble.sh' >> ~/.bashrc +``` + +Again, exit the terminal and open a new one in order to see the +newly-configured shell. + +# Restart the Session + +Finally, as mentioned above, you\'ll need to restart the session to +ensure that your user is using bash by default. + +You will also need to exit and re-open a shell (e.g., terminal or +terminal tab) any time you make changes to the `.bashrc` +file. + +```sh +sudo reboot now +``` |