Say good bye to cd and hello Zoxide - the better and smarter cd command! (2024)

Introduction

If you're like me, you're constantly zipping around directories in your terminal, trying to keep up with your coding projects, side hustles, and random tech adventures. But let's be real for a second: the old cd command? It's feels like trying to navigate a maze blindfolded.

Zoxide

https://github.com/ajeetdsouza/zoxide

So, I stumbled upon this game-changing tool that's about to revolutionize the way you navigate your terminal: Zoxide. It works like magic in your terminal. It keeps track of the directories you frequently visit and ranks them based on your usage patterns. So, when you need to navigate to a directory, instead of wracking your brain trying to recall its exact path, you simply type z <directory_name> and voila! Zoxide intelligently takes you there in an instant.

Installation

https://github.com/ajeetdsouza/zoxide#installation

Install binary

Installing Zoxide is a breeze. You can grab it from your favorite package manager or build it from source - whatever floats your boat.

The recommended way to install zoxide is via the install script:

$ curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ajeetdsouza/zoxide/main/install.sh | bash

I use Arch BTW, so I'll install it using pacman:

$ sudo pacman -S zoxide

Setup zoxide

Once installed, just add a tiny snippet to the end of your shell configuration file (like .bashrc or .zshrc), and you're good to go!

For bash (~/.bashrc):

eval "$(zoxide init bash)"

For fish (~/.config/fish/config.fish):

zoxide init fish | source

For zsh (~/.zshrc):

eval "$(zoxide init zsh)"

Usage

https://github.com/ajeetdsouza/zoxide/wiki/Algorithm
You can find out more about Zoxide on its man page after installed:

$ man zoxide

To unlock its full potential, it's a good idea to train it. Training Zoxide involves simply using your terminal as you normally would for a bit, letting Zoxide observe your directory navigation patterns. Try navigating to your projects with Zoxide.

After training, using Zoxide is as easy as typing z <directory_name> to quickly navigate to frequently accessed directories without the full path!

Rebinding

Now, Zoxide is incredible, no doubt about it. But what if you're a creature of habit, like me, who's been typing cd for eons?

You can easily rebind the z command to cd, so you don't have to mess with your muscle memory:

For bash (~/.bashrc):

eval "$(zoxide init --cmd cd bash)"

For fish (~/.config/fish/config.fish):

zoxide init --cmd cd fish | source

For zsh (~/.zshrc):

eval "$(zoxide init --cmd cd zsh)"

Conclusion

In short, Zoxide is your terminal's new best friend, guiding you effortlessly through directories with just a few keystrokes. Say goodbye to aimless navigation and hello to smooth sailing with Zoxide!

PS: This is my first blog, so your feedback means the world to me!