Now, before you start rolling your eyes and muttering under your breath about how this is common knowledge, let me just say one thing: it’s not.
In fact, many people out there are still using the default settings that come with Powerlevel10k without even realizing they could be doing better. And if youre one of those people, well…youre in for a treat! Because today were going to show you how to make your shell experience faster and more efficient than ever before.
Powerlevel10k is designed to be lightweight and fast by default, but there are still some simple tweaks you can make to improve its performance even further. For example…
– Disable autoloading of plugins: This might seem counterintuitive at first, since plugins are what makes Powerlevel10k so powerful in the first place. But if you’re not using all of them (and let’s face it most people aren’t), then disabling autoloading can save a significant amount of time and resources. To do this, simply add the following line to your `~/.zshrc` file:
# Disable plugin loading at startup
# This line disables the automatic loading of plugins at startup, which can save time and resources if not all plugins are being used.
setopt no_autoload
– Use a faster shell prompt: Powerlevel10k comes with several different prompts to choose from, but not all of them are created equal. If you’re using the default `powerlevel9d` prompt (which is pretty popular), then consider switching to something like `powerlevel10k/themes/gruvbox-material`. This theme uses a more compact and efficient layout that can help reduce load times and improve overall performance.
– Optimize your shell configuration: If you’re using any custom scripts or functions in your shell, then make sure they are optimized for speed and efficiency. For example…
Use `zsh` builtins whenever possible: Instead of relying on external commands like `grep`, try to use zsh’s own built-in features wherever you can. This will not only improve performance but also reduce the number of dependencies in your shell configuration.
Avoid using unnecessary variables and functions: If you don’t need a variable or function, then don’t create it! Every time you add something to your shell configuration, there is an overhead cost associated with loading that code into memory. By keeping things simple and streamlined, you can help reduce this overhead and improve overall performance.
Use `zsh` arrays instead of loops: If you need to iterate over a list of items in your shell script or function, then consider using zsh’s built-in array syntax instead of traditional for/while loops. This will not only be faster but also more concise and easier to read.
Use `zsh` functions whenever possible: Instead of creating custom scripts or functions from scratch, try to use existing zsh functions wherever you can. For example…
# Print the current directory using a built-in function instead of an external command
# Use the `echo` built-in function instead of `print` for consistency
echo "$(pwd)" # Use double quotes to allow for variable expansion within the string
# Use the `pwd` built-in function instead of the `pwd` external command for efficiency
# Use the `$(...)` syntax for command substitution instead of backticks for readability
# Add a comment explaining the purpose of the command
# The `pwd` function prints the current working directory
# The `echo` function then prints the output of the `pwd` function
# This results in printing the current directory without using an external command
Use `zsh` aliases for common commands: If there are certain commands that you use frequently, then consider creating custom aliases to make them easier and faster to type. For example…
# Create an alias for the 'ls' command with a shorter name
# This line creates an alias called 'l' for the 'ls' command, allowing for a shorter and easier way to type the command.
alias l='ls -l --color=auto'
# This line adds the '-l' flag to the 'ls' command, which displays the contents of a directory in a detailed list format.
# The '--color=auto' flag adds color to the output of the 'ls' command, making it easier to distinguish between different types of files.
# Create an alias for the 'ls' command with a shorter name
# This line creates an alias called 'l' for the 'ls' command, allowing for a shorter and easier way to type the command.
alias l='ls -l --color=auto'
# This line adds the '-l' flag to the 'ls' command, which displays the contents of a directory in a detailed list format.
# The '--color=auto' flag adds color to the output of the 'ls' command, making it easier to distinguish between different types of files.
These are just a few of the many ways you can optimize your shell configuration for performance, but hopefully they give you some ideas to work with. By following these tips and tricks, you should be able to make Powerlevel10k faster and more efficient than ever before!