A high-performance plugin manager and toolkit for Zsh.
Install plugins, snippets, completions, themes, and command-line tools with precise control over how they are downloaded, configured, and loaded.
Quick start · Documentation · Releases · Discussions
Zi is the Z-Shell ecosystem's plugin manager. It can source a single remote script, manage a complete plugin, install a binary release, run build steps, or defer work until after the first prompt. Zi was formerly known as zplugin and zinit.
| Capability | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Responsive startup | Turbo mode defers plugin work until after the prompt without giving up declarative configuration. |
| Flexible sources | Load Git repositories, standalone scripts, Oh My Zsh and Prezto snippets, completions, and release artifacts. |
| Precise control | Ice modifiers describe download, build, selection, loading, and update behavior for each dependency. |
| Tool management | Install command-line tools and packages without root access, then expose them through your shell environment. |
| Extensible design | Annexes add focused capabilities without expanding the core into a monolith. |
Run the minimal installer. It downloads Zi and adds the minimal setup to your
.zshrc:
sh -c "$(curl -fsSL get.zshell.dev)" --Review the installer source and its published SHA-256 checksum before running a remote installation script.
Add Zi commands to .zshrc. This example loads an Oh My Zsh snippet, command
suggestions, and fast syntax highlighting:
# ~/.zshrc
zi snippet OMZ::plugins/git/git.plugin.zsh
zi light zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions
zi light z-shell/F-Sy-Hsnippet loads a standalone script. light loads a plugin without tracking
and reporting overhead.
exec zsh -ilRun zi -h to explore the available commands. For alternate installers,
manual setup, completions, and post-install steps, see the full
installation guide.
| I want to... | Read... |
|---|---|
| Understand plugin and snippet loading | General overview |
| Control how a dependency is installed and loaded | Ice modifiers |
| Customize Zi paths and behavior | Configuration |
| Explore commands and maintenance workflows | Commands |
| Discover plugins, annexes, and packages | Ecosystem |
- Ask usage questions in Z-Shell Discussions.
- Report reproducible defects through Zi issues.
- Browse releases and changelogs on the releases page.
- Explore the wider Z-Shell organization.
Contributions are welcome. Read the contribution guide
before opening an issue or pull request. Development work targets the next
branch, while main contains production releases.
Please follow the Z-Shell security policy to report vulnerabilities privately. Do not disclose a vulnerability in a public issue before a fix is available.
Zi is available under the MIT License.