This is zsh version 2.4 beta. Zsh is a shell with lots of features. For a list of these, see the FEATURES file. For more details, see the documentation. Installing zsh -------------- To compile zsh, cd into the src directory and type "./buildzsh". The buildzsh script takes various options that are useful if you want to use a nonstandard compiler, build on several architectures, etc. Do a "./buildzsh help" for details. If no errors occur, you can install zsh by typing "make install". This will install the executable and the manpage. The compilation procedure has recently been tested and found to work on the following machines: /* List of machines */ If you have used zsh before, please be sure to read the section "Important changes" below. Included in this release are alternative malloc and associated functions which reduce memory usage on some systems. You can use these by defining USE_ZSH_MALLOC in config.h. Documentation ------------- There are a number of documents about zsh in this distribution: man/zsh.1 A manpage in nroff format. This will be installed in /usr/man/man1 by "make install". doc/intro.ms An introduction to zsh in troff format using the ms macros. This document explains many of the features that make zsh more equal than other shells. doc/zsh.texi Everything the manpage has, but in texinfo format. If you do not have the necessary tools to process these documents, postscript, ascii and info versions are available in a separate file at the distribution sites: carlo.phys.uva.nl:/pub/bas/zsh/zsh-2.4doc.tar.gz ftp.sterling.com:/zsh/zsh-2.4doc.tar.gz The distribution also contains a help directory with descriptions of builtin commands taken from the manpage. The example function func/run-help will view the appropriate file from the help directory, set in the HELPDIR variable, or run 'man' if such a file is not available. Important changes ----------------- This is a list of changes in zsh compared to version 2.3.1 which might force you to change your old initialization files. The -h option to compctl for host completion no longer exists. Define a hosts variable and use compctl -k hosts instead. Example: change compctl -h ping to compctl -k hosts ping The hostcmds, bindcmds, optcmds and varcmds special arrays no longer exist. Use compctl -k hosts, -b, -o and -v respectively. The NO_UNSET option applies to the positional parameters (usually the arguments to a script) as well as to all other parameters. Feedback -------- Zsh is currently maintained by the members of the zsh mailing list: zsh-list@sterling.com If you wish to subscribe to the mailing list, send an email message to Majordomo@sterling.com (this is an automated server) containing subscribe zsh-list where can be blank if you want to subscribe from your current email address. Send the message `help' to the same address for help on the list server; `unsubscribe zsh-list' also works. (Don't send this to the list!). The list manager, Rick Ohnemus, can be reached at owner-zsh-list@sterling.com You can send bug reports, compliments and the like to the mailing list. If are not a subscriber and would like to receive an answer, please mention so in your message. Authors ------- Zsh was originally written by Paul Falstad, people who have supplied patches for this release are: /* List of patchers */