fzf-tab
fzf-tab is an innovative project aimed at enhancing the default completion selection menu in the Z shell (zsh) by replacing it with fzf, a command-line fuzzy finder. This project is especially useful for users looking for more efficient and flexible ways to navigate through shell commands.
Installation
To start using fzf-tab, ensure that fzf is already installed on your system. There are several methods to install fzf-tab, each adaptable to different user environments. It is crucial to load fzf-tab after compinit but before any other plugins that wrap widgets, such as zsh-autosuggestions or fast-syntax-highlighting.
Manual Installation
You can manually install fzf-tab by cloning the repository and updating your .zshrc:
git clone https://github.com/Aloxaf/fzf-tab ~/somewhere
echo "autoload -U compinit; compinit" >> ~/.zshrc
echo "source ~/somewhere/fzf-tab.plugin.zsh" >> ~/.zshrc
Using Other Tools
- Antigen: Add
antigen bundle Aloxaf/fzf-tabto your.zshrc. - Zinit: Use
zinit light Aloxaf/fzf-tabin your setup. - Oh-My-Zsh: Clone the repo to your custom directory, then add
fzf-tabto your plugin list. - Prezto: Clone to your contrib directory and update your module list.
Usage
With fzf-tab, you continue using the Tab key to complete commands, now enhanced by fzf. Key bindings like Ctrl+Space, F1/F2, and / facilitate more versatile usage, such as selecting multiple results, switching between groups, and continuous completion for deep paths.
There are commands to manage the plugin's state:
disable-fzf-tab: Turns offfzf-tab, reverting to the default completion.enable-fzf-tab: Activatesfzf-tab.toggle-fzf-tab: Switches between enabled and disabled states.
Configuration Options
Typical configurations involve customizing styles and behaviors to match specific user preferences, such as:
- Disabling sort for certain commands.
- Adjusting menu display settings.
- Setting up preview accessories like
ezafor directory content previews.
Tmux Integration
For tmux users (version 3.2 and above), fzf-tab offers a script for better integration, allowing the use of the "popup" feature, enhancing the user interface experience.
Binary Module
fzf-tab utilizes the zsh-ls-colors script by default for color parsing, which might be slower for large directories. To enhance performance, a binary module can be built and used.
Differences from Other Plugins
Unlike other plugins, fzf-tab doesn't alter the completion process itself; it filters and displays results from the native completion system. This approach ensures compatibility and functionality across various contexts in the shell, including variables and function names.
Compatibility with Other Plugins
Compatibility with existing plugins is generally robust, though certain plugins that also redefine the Tab key bindings may conflict. Ensuring fzf-tab is the last plugin to bind ^I usually resolves such issues.
Related Projects
A related project that extends fzf-tab functionality to other environments like zsh, bash, and readline applications is available at https://github.com/lincheney/fzf-tab-completion.
In summary, fzf-tab is a seamless enhancement for power users of the zsh shell, bringing the power of fuzzy searching directly into the tab completion interface, significantly improving the efficiency of command line navigation.