Context: :grml:completion:compinit

This context revolves around the zshrc's compinit function call, that initialises zsh's function based completion system.

arguments

This style allows the injection of arguments to the command line that is used to run compinit. It is a list style and its default is the empty list. Using this style, it's possible to add -i to compinit in order to disable compaudit. \

zstyle ':grml:completion:compinit' arguments -i

\ Only do this, if you know what sort of security checks are disabled if compaudit is not active and if that's acceptable with your specific setup. \ This style has to be set at the point that Grml's zshrc runs compinit. A possible way to achieve this is to set it in ~/.zshrc.pre (see AUXILIARY FILES below for details).

DIRSTACK HANDLING

The dirstack in grmlzshrc has a persistent nature. It is stored into a file each time zsh's working directory is changed. That file can be configured via the DIRSTACKFILE variable and it defaults to ~/.zdirs. The DIRSTACKSIZE variable defaults to 20 in this setup.

The DIRSTACKFILE is loaded each time zsh starts, therefore freshly started zshs inherit the dirstack of the zsh that most recently updated DIRSTACKFILE.

If you would like to disable the persistent dirstack feature altogether, you can do that by setting the boolean enable style to false in the right context (the default is true): \

zstyle ':grml:chpwd:dirstack' enable false

It is possible to apply a filter to the names of directories that will be committed to the persistent dirstack file. There are two ways to configure this filter: A general function based filter and a pattern based filter. Both are setup via styles in the ':grml:chpwd:dirstack' context.

To use a function based filter set the filter style for that context to the name of a function to call every time a directory name is to be added to the persistent dirstack. If the function's return value signals success (ie. return value "0"), the directory name is filtered out and not added to the persistent stack. Example: \

function my_dirstack_filter() { [[ $1 == /tmp(|/*) ]] }
zstyle ':grml:chpwd:dirstack' filter my_dirstack_filter

The pattern based filter uses a list of patterns passed to the exclude style in the aforementioned context. Each pattern is tested and the first that matches will keep the directory name from being added to the persistent stack. If none of the patterns matches, the name is added. example: \

zstyle ':grml:chpwd:dirstack' exclude "/tmp(|/*)" "$HOME/tmp(|/*)"

The function based filter is more general, the pattern based filter easier to set up. If both filter variants are used at the same time, the function based filter will be executed before the pattern based one.

If you would like to apply your filters while loading the persistent dirstack file, set the filter-on-load boolean style (the default is false): \

zstyle ':grml:chpwd:dirstack' filter-on-load true

Setting the filter-on-load and enable styles needs to be done in ".zshrc.pre" because the styles need to be set when the main setup is executing! The other styles do not have this limitation, but enabling the system as well as the initial filtering will obviously be done using settings and filters that are configured at that point.

With respect to filter-on-load, the rule of thumb is: If you want to filter on load, setup everything in ".zshrc.pre" otherwise ".zshrc.local" works just as well.

DIRECTORY BASED PROFILES

If you need to perform certain actions each time you enter certain directory-trees, this is the feature you are looking for.

zstyle ':chpwd:profiles:/usr/src/grml(|/|/*)'   profile grml
zstyle ':chpwd:profiles:/usr/src/debian(|/|/*)' profile debian

  /foo/bar
  /foo/bar/
  /foo/bar/baz

function chpwd_profile_grml() {
    [[ ${profile} == ${CHPWD_PROFILE} ]] && return 1
  ...
}

  zstyle ':chpwd:profiles:*' re-execute false

ACCEPTLINE WRAPPER

The accept-line wiget is the one that is taking action when the return key is hit. grmlzshrc uses a wrapper around that widget, which adds new functionality.

This wrapper is configured via styles. That means, you issue commands, that look like: \

zstyle 'context' style value

The context namespace, that we are using is 'acceptline'. That means, the actual context for your commands look like: ':acceptline:<subcontext>'.

Where <subcontext> is one of: default, normal, force, misc or empty.

PROMPT

The grmlzshrc now supplies three prompt themes compatible with zsh's promptinit system. The three themes are called grml, grml-large and grml-chroot.

By default, grml is used, unless $GRMLPROMPT is set to a value larger than zero, in which case grml-large is used. Lastly, if $GRML_CHROOT is non-empty, grml-chroot is used.

As usual, with promptinit themes, the user may switch to a different theme using the prompt utility: \

    prompt grml-large

That will use the grml-large prompt theme.

The themes are highly customisable. The main source of documentation about customisation is the main grml theme's doc-string, that is available via the following command: \

    prompt -h grml

The other themes also come with doc-strings, but the main theme's is the canonical reference about all of them.

This feature requires version 4.3.7 of the shell. Older versions will use the classic grml prompt as a fallback.

A note to people who like customisation: If you are not using a prompt theme for your customisation, but you're either statically setting $PS1 (or $PROMPT) or you're constructing one of those variables in zsh's \`precmd()' function, make sure you are turning the zsh's prompt theme system off before doing so. A correct example customisation could look like this: \

    # Turn the prompt system off:
    prompt off
    # Customise the prompt yourself:
    PS1='%~ %# '

You also add your own tokens by using the \`grml_theme_add_token()' function. Call the function without arguments for detailed documentation about that procedure.

GNU/SCREEN STATUS SETTING

grmlzshrc sets screen's hardstatus lines to the currently running command or 'zsh' if the shell is idling at its prompt. If the current working directory is inside a repository unter version control, screen status is set to: 'zsh: <repository name>' via zsh's vcs_info.

PERSISTENT HISTORY

If you got commands you consider important enough to be included in every shell's history, you can put them into $GRML_IMPORTANT_COMMANDS (which defaults for backward compatibility to ~/.important_commands) and they will be available via the usual history lookup widgets.

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

grmlzshrc sets some environment variables, which influence the behaviour of applications.

COLORTERM

Set to "yes". Some applications read this to learn about properties of the terminal they are running in.

EDITOR

If not already set, sets the default editor. Falls back to vi(1), if vim(1) is not available.

LESS_TERMCAP_*

Some environment variables that add colour support to less(1) for viewing man pages. See termcap(5) for details.

MAIL

The mailbox file for the current user is set to /var/mail/$USER, if not already set otherwise.

PAGER

Set less(1) as default pager, if not already set to something different.

OPTIONS

Apart from zsh's default options, grmlzshrc sets some options that change the behaviour of zsh. Options that change Z-shell's default settings are marked by <grml>. But note, that zsh's defaults vary depending on its emulation mode (csh, ksh, sh, or zsh). For details, see zshoptions(1).

append_history

Zsh sessions, that use grmlzshrc, will append their history list to the history file, rather than replace it. Thus, multiple parallel zsh sessions will all have the new entries from their history lists added to the history file, in the order that they exit. The file will still be periodically re-written to trim it when the number of lines grows 20% beyond the value specified by $SAVEHIST.

auto_cd <grml>

If a command is issued that can't be executed as a normal command, and the command is the name of a directory, perform the cd command to that directory.

auto_pushd <grml>

Make cd push the old directory onto the directory stack.

completeinword <grml>

If the cursor is inside a word, completion is done from both ends; instead of moving the cursor to the end of the word first and starting from there.

extended_glob <grml>

Treat the '#', '~' and '^' characters as active globbing pattern characters.

extended_history <grml>

Save each command's beginning timestamp (in seconds since the epoch) and the duration (in seconds) to the history file.

hash_list_all

Whenever a command completion is attempted, make sure the entire command path is hashed first. This makes the first completion slower.

histignorealldups <grml>

If a new command line being added to the history list duplicates an older one, the older command is removed from the list, even if it is not the previous event.

histignorespace <grml>

Remove command lines from the history list when the first character on the line is a space, or when one of the expanded aliases contains a leading space. Note that the command lingers in the internal history until the next command is entered before it vanishes.

longlistjobs <grml>

List jobs in long format by default.

nobeep <grml>

Avoid to beep on errors in zsh command line editing (zle).

noglobdots

A wildcard character never matches a leading '.'.

nohup <grml>

Do not send the hangup signal (HUP:1) to running jobs when the shell exits.

nonomatch <grml>

If a pattern for filename generation has no matches, do not print an error and leave it unchanged in the argument list. This also applies to file expansion of an initial `~' or `='.

notify

Report the status of background jobs immediately, rather than waiting until just before printing a prompt.

pushd_ignore_dups <grml>

Don't push multiple copies of the same directory onto the directory stack.

share_history <grml>

As each line is added to the history file, it is checked to see if anything else was written out by another shell, and if so it is included in the history of the current shell too. Using !-style history, the commands from the other sessions will not appear in the history list unless you explicitly type the "history" command. This option is activated for zsh versions >= 4, only.

KEYBINDINGS

Apart from zsh's default key bindings, grmlzshrc comes with its own set of key bindings. Note that bindings like ESC-e can also be typed as ALT-e on PC keyboards.

ESC-e

Edit the current command buffer in your favourite editor.

ESC-v

Deletes a word left of the cursor; seeing '/' as additional word separator.

CTRL-x-1

Jump right after the first word.

CTRL-x-M()

Create directory under cursor or the selected area. To select an area press ctrl-@ and use the cursor. Use case: you type "mv abc ~/testa/testb/testc/" and remember that the directory does not exist yet -> press CTRL-xM and problem solved.

CTRL-x-p

Searches the last occurrence of string before the cursor in the command history.

CTRL-x-z

Display help on keybindings and zsh line editor. Press consecutively to page through content.

CTRL-z

Brings a job, which got suspended with CTRL-z back to foreground.

SHELL FUNCTIONS

grmlzshrc comes with a wide array of defined shell functions to ease the user's life.

855resolution()

If 915resolution is available, issues a warning to the user to run it instead to modify the resolution on intel graphics chipsets.

accessed()

Lists files in current directory, which have been accessed within the last N days. N is an integer to be passed as first and only argument. If no argument is specified N is set to 1.

any()

Lists processes matching given pattern.

asc()

Login on the host provided as argument using autossh. Then reattach a GNU screen session if a detached session is around or detach a currently attached screen or else start a new screen. This is especially useful for roadwarriors using GNU screen and ssh.

bk()

Simple backup management of a file or directory using standard unix programs. The target file name is the original name plus a time stamp attached. Symlinks and file attributes like mode, ownership and timestamps are preserved.

cdrecord()

If the original cdrecord is not installed, issues a warning to the user to use the wodim binary instead. Wodim is the debian fork of Joerg Schillings cdrecord.

cdt()

Creates a temporary directory using mktemp. Then changes current working directory to it.

changed()

Lists files in current directory, which have been changed within the last N days. N is an integer to be passed as first and only argument. If no argument is specified N is set to 1.

check_com()

Returns true if given command exists either as program, function, alias, builtin or reserved word. If the option -c is given, only returns true, if command is a program.

checkhome()

Changes directory to $HOME on first invocation of zsh. This is necessary on Grml systems with autologin.

cl()

Changes current directory to the one supplied by argument and lists the files in it, including file names starting with ".".

dchange()

Shows the changelog of given package in $PAGER.

dcopyright()

Shows the copyright of given package in $PAGER.

debian2hd()

Tells the user to use grml-debootstrap, if she wants to install debian to harddisk.

deswap()

A trick from $LINUX-KERNELSOURCE/Documentation/power/swsusp.txt. It brings back interactive responsiveness after suspend, when the system is swapping heavily.

dnews()

Shows the NEWS file for the given package in $PAGER.

edalias()

Edit given alias.

edfunc()

Edit given shell function.

freload()

Reloads an autoloadable shell function (See autoload in zshbuiltins(1)).

grml_vcs_info_toggle_colour()

Toggles between coloured and uncoloured formats in vcs_info configuration. This is useful with prompts that break if colour codes are in vcs_info format expansions (like the `clint' prompt and every other prompt that uses %v to expand the contents of `$vcs_into_msg_0_'). If you are using customised vcs_info formats, you shouldn't be using this function, since it will set all formats to grml's default values (either coloured or plain) again.

hgdi()

Use GNU diff with options -ubwd for mercurial.

hgstat()

Displays diffstat between the revision given as argument and tip (no argument means last revision).

hidiff()

Outputs highlighted diff; needs highstring(1).

is4()

Returns true, if zsh version is equal or greater than 4, else false.

is41()

Returns true, if zsh version is equal or greater than 4.1, else false.

is42()

Returns true, if zsh version is equal or greater than 4.2, else false.

is425()

Returns true, if zsh version is equal or greater than 4.2.5, else false.

is43()

Returns true, if zsh version is equal or greater than 4.3, else false.

is433()

Returns true, if zsh version is equal or greater than 4.3.3, else false.

isdarwin()

Returns true, if running on darwin, else false.

isfreebsd()

Returns true, if running on FreeBSD, else false.

isgrml()

Returns true, if running on a grml system, else false.

isgrmlcd()

Returns true, if running on a grml system from a live cd, else false.

isgrmlsmall()

Returns true, if run on grml-small, else false.

islinux()

Returns true, if running on Linux, else false.

iso2utf()

Changes every occurrence of the string iso885915 or ISO885915 in environment variables to UTF-8.

isopenbsd()

Returns true, if running on OpenBSD, else false.

isutfenv()

Returns true, if run within an utf environment, else false.

mkcd()

Creates directory including parent directories, if necessary. Then changes current working directory to it.

modified()

Lists files in current directory, which have been modified within the last N days. N is an integer to be passed as first and only argument. If no argument is specified N is set to 1.

nt()

A helper function for the "e" glob qualifier to list all files newer than a reference file. \ Example usages:

% NTREF=/reference/file
% ls -l *(e:nt:)
% # Inline:
% ls -l *(e:'nt /reference/file':)

profile()

Runs a command in zsh with profiling enabled (See startup variable ZSH_PROFILE_RC above).

salias()

Creates an alias with sudo prepended, if $EUID is not zero. Run "salias -h" for details. See also xunfunction() below.

simple-extract()

Tries to uncompress/unpack given files with the appropriate programs. If an URI starting with https, http or ftp is provided simple-extract tries to download and then uncompress/unpack the file. The choice is made along the filename ending. simple-extract will not delete the original archive (even on .gz,.bz2 or .xz) unless you use the '-d' option.

sll()

Prints details of symlinks given as arguments.

ssl-cert-fingerprints

Prints the SHA512, SHA256, SHA1 and MD5 digest of a x509 certificate. First and only parameter must be a file containing a certificate. Use /dev/stdin as file if you want to pipe a certificate to these functions.

ssl-cert-info

Prints all information of a x509 certificate including the SHA512, SHA256, SHA1 and MD5 digests. First and only parameter must be a file containing a certificate. Use /dev/stdin as file if you want to pipe a certificate to this function.

ssl-cert-sha512(), ssl-cert-sha256(), ssl-cert-sha1(), ssl-cert-md5()

Prints the SHA512, SHA256, SHA1 respective MD5 digest of a x509 certificate. First and only parameter must be a file containing a certificate. Use /dev/stdin as file if you want to pipe a certificate to this function.

Start(), Restart(), Stop(), Force-Reload(), Reload()

Functions for controlling daemons.

Example usage:
% Restart ssh

trans()

Translates a word from german to english (-D) or vice versa (-E).

uchange()

Shows upstreams changelog of a given package in $PAGER.

uprint()

Works around the "print -l ${(u)foo}"-limitation on zsh older than 4.2.

utf2iso()

Changes every occurrence of the string UTF-8 or utf-8 in environment variables to iso885915.

vim()

Wrapper for vim(1). It tries to set the title and hands vim the environment variable VIM_OPTIONS on the command line. So the user may define command line options, she always wants, in her .zshrc.local.

whatwhen()

Searches the history for a given pattern and lists the results by date. The first argument is the search pattern. The second and third ones are optional and denote a search range (default: -100).

xcat()

Tries to cat(1) file(s) given as parameter(s). Always returns true. See also xunfunction() below.

xsource()

Tries to source the file(s) given as parameter(s). Always returns true. See zshbuiltins(1) for a detailed description of the source command. See also xunfunction() below.

xtrename()

Changes the title of xterm window from within screen(1). Run without arguments for details.

xunfunction()

Removes the functions salias, xcat, xsource, xunfunction and zrcautoload.

zrcautoload()

Wrapper around the autoload builtin. Loads the definitions of functions from the file given as argument. Searches $fpath for the file. See also xunfunction() above.

zrclocal()

Sources /etc/zsh/zshrc.local and ${HOME}/.zshrc.local. These are the files where own modifications should go. See also zshbuiltins(1) for a description of the source command.

ALIASES

grmlzshrc comes with a wide array of predefined aliases to ease the user's life. A few aliases (like those involving grep or ls) use the option --color=auto for colourizing output. That option is part of GNU implementations of these tools, and will only be used if such an implementation is detected.

acp (apt-cache policy)

With no arguments prints out the priorities of each source. If a package name is given, it displays detailed information about the priority selection of the package.

acs (apt search)

Searches debian package lists for the regular expression provided as argument. The search includes package names and descriptions. Prints out name and short description of matching packages.

acsh (apt show)

Shows the package records for the packages provided as arguments.

adg (apt dist-upgrade)

Performs an upgrade of all installed packages. Also tries to automatically handle changing dependencies with new versions of packages. As this may change the install status of (or even remove) installed packages, it is potentially dangerous to use dist-upgrade; invoked by sudo, if necessary.

ag (apt upgrade)

Downloads and installs the newest versions of all packages currently installed on the system. Under no circumstances are currently installed packages removed, or packages not already installed retrieved and installed. New versions of currently installed packages that cannot be upgraded without changing the install status of another package will be left at their current version. An update must be performed first (see au below); run by sudo, if necessary.

agi (apt install)

Downloads and installs or upgrades the packages given on the command line. If a hyphen is appended to the package name, the identified package will be removed if it is installed. Similarly a plus sign can be used to designate a package to install. This may be useful to override decisions made by apt's conflict resolution system. A specific version of a package can be selected for installation by following the package name with an equals and the version of the package to select. This will cause that version to be located and selected for install. Alternatively a specific distribution can be selected by following the package name with a slash and the version of the distribution or the Archive name (stable, testing, unstable). Gets invoked by sudo, if user id is not 0.

ati (aptitude install)

Aptitude is a terminal-based package manager with a command line mode similar to apt (see agi above); invoked by sudo, if necessary.

au (apt update)

Resynchronizes the package index files from their sources. The indexes of available packages are fetched from the location(s) specified in /etc/apt/sources.list. An update should always be performed before an upgrade or dist-upgrade; run by sudo, if necessary.

da (du -sch)

Prints the summarized disk usage of the arguments as well as a grand total in human readable format.

dbp (dpkg-buildpackage)

Builds binary or source packages from sources (See: dpkg-buildpackage(1)).

debs-by-size (grep-status -FStatus -sInstalled-Size,Package -n "install ok installed" | paste -sd " \n" | sort -rn)

Prints installed Packages sorted by size (descending).

dir (ls -lSrah)

Lists files (including dot files) sorted by size (biggest last) in long and human readable output format.

ge (grep-excuses)

Searches the testing excuses files for a specific maintainer (See: grep-excuses(1)).

grep (grep --color=auto)

Shows grep output in nice colors, if available.

grml-version (cat /etc/grml_version)

Prints version of running grml.

hbp (hg-buildpackage)

Helper program to maintain Debian packages with mercurial.

http (python -m SimpleHTTPServer)

Basic HTTP server implemented in python. Listens on port 8000/tcp and serves current directory. Implements GET and HEAD methods.

insecscp (scp -o "StrictHostKeyChecking=no" -o "UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null")

scp with possible man-in-the-middle attack enabled. This is convenient, if the targets host key changes frequently, for example on virtualized test- or development-systems. To be used only inside trusted networks, of course.

insecssh (ssh -o "StrictHostKeyChecking=no" -o "UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null")

ssh with possible man-in-the-middle attack enabled (for an explanation see insecscp above).

help-zshglob (H-Glob())

Runs the function H-Glob() to expand or explain wildcards.

j (jobs -l)

Prints status of jobs in the current shell session in long format.

l (ls -l --color=auto)

Lists files in long output format with indicator for filetype appended to filename. If the terminal supports it, with colored output.

la (ls -la --color=auto)

Lists files in long colored output format. Including file names starting with ".".

lad (ls -d .*(/))

Lists the dot directories (not their contents) in current directory.

lh (ls -hAl --color=auto)

Lists files in long and human readable output format in nice colors, if available. Includes file names starting with "." except "." and "..".

ll (ls -l --color=auto)

Lists files in long colored output format.

llog ($PAGER /var/log/syslog)

Opens syslog in pager.

ls (ls -C --color=auto)

Lists directory, entries are listed by columns and an indicator for file type is appended to each file name. Additionally the output is colored, if the terminal supports it.

lsa (ls -a .*(.))

Lists dot files in current working directory.

lsbig (ls -flh *(.OL[1,10]))

Displays the ten biggest files (long and human readable output format).

lsd (ls -d *(/))

Shows directories.

lse (ls -d *(/^F))

Shows empty directories.

lsl (ls -l *(@))

Lists symbolic links in current directory.

lsnew (ls -rl *(D.om[1,10]))

Displays the ten newest files (long output format).

lsnewdir (ls -rthdl *(/om[1,10]) .*(D/om[1,10]))

Displays the ten newest directories and ten newest .directories.

lsold (ls -rtlh *(D.om[1,10]))

Displays the ten oldest files (long output format).

lsolddir (ls -rthdl *(/Om[1,10]) .*(D/Om[1,10]))

Displays the ten oldest directories and ten oldest .directories.

lss (ls -l *(s,S,t))

Lists files in current directory that have the setuid, setgid or sticky bit set.

lssmall (ls -Srl *(.oL[1,10]))

Displays the ten smallest files (long output format).

lsw (ls -ld *(R,W,X.^ND/))

Displays all files which are world readable and/or world writable and/or world executable (long output format).

lsx (ls -l *(*))

Lists only executable files.

mdstat (cat /proc/mdstat)

Lists all active md (i.e. linux software raid) devices with some information about them.

mq (hg -R $(readlink -f $(hg root)/.hg/patches))

Executes the commands on the versioned patch queue from current repository.

rmcdir ('cd ..; rmdir $OLDPWD || cd $OLDPWD)

rmdir current working directory

screen (screen -c file)

If invoking user is root, starts screen session with /etc/grml/screenrc as config file. If invoked by a regular user and users .screenc does not exist, starts screen with /etc/grml/screenrc_grml config if it exists, else fallbacks to /etc/grml/screenrc.

su (sudo su)

If user is running a Grml live system, don't ask for any password, if she wants a root shell.

term2iso (echo 'Setting terminal to iso mode' ; print -n '\e%@')

Sets mode from UTF-8 to ISO 2022 (See: http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/unicode.html#term).

term2utf (echo 'Setting terminal to utf-8 mode'; print -n '\e%G')

Sets mode from ISO 2022 to UTF-8 (See: http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/unicode.html#term).

tlog (tail -f /var/log/syslog)

Prints syslog continuously (See tail(1)).

up (aptitude update ; aptitude safe-upgrade)

Performs a system update followed by a system upgrade using aptitude; run by sudo, if necessary. See au and ag above.

url-quote (autoload -U url-quote-magic ; zle -N self-insert url-quote-magic)

After calling, characters of URLs as typed get automatically escaped, if necessary, to protect them from the shell.

$(uname -r)-reboot (kexec -l --initrd=/boot/initrd.img-"$(uname -r)" --command-line=\"$(cat /proc/cmdline)\" /boot/vmlinuz-"$(uname -r)")

Reboots using kexec(8) and thus reduces boot time by skipping hardware initialization of BIOS/firmware.

... (cd ../../)

Changes current directory two levels higher.