A lightweight plugin manager for Zsh that keeps your .zshrc clean and speeds up shell startup.
zgen is a lightweight plugin manager for Zsh that helps users manage plugins, themes, and completions while keeping their .zshrc configuration clean and minimal. It generates a static init script to source plugins quickly, reducing shell startup time by avoiding repetitive plugin checks and updates during each session. It is inspired by Antigen but focuses on simplicity and speed.
Zsh users who want to manage plugins and themes efficiently, particularly those who prioritize fast shell startup times and minimal configuration overhead. It is suitable for developers and system administrators using Zsh as their primary shell.
Developers choose zgen over alternatives because it reduces startup lag by generating a cached init script, offers straightforward commands for plugin management, and integrates natively with oh-my-zsh and Prezto. Its lightweight design and focus on performance make it ideal for users who want a no-fuss plugin manager.
A lightweight and simple plugin manager for ZSH
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Generates a static init script that sources plugins quickly, avoiding repetitive checks during each session, directly reducing startup lag as highlighted in the README's philosophy.
Offers native shortcuts like `zgen oh-my-zsh` and `zgen prezto` for easy loading of plugins and themes from popular Zsh frameworks, keeping configuration minimal.
Manages `compinit` automatically for faster initialization, unless disabled, as noted in the README's Notes section to optimize performance.
Includes `zgen loadall` for streamlined loading of multiple plugins at once, as demonstrated in the example .zshrc for efficient setup.
Users must run `zgen reset` after adding or removing plugins to update the init script, which adds overhead for frequent configuration changes.
Plugins do not update automatically; relying on manual `zgen update` commands or external tools like autoupdate-zgen, as admitted in the README.
Lacks features such as plugin version pinning or dependency management, focusing on simplicity over comprehensiveness compared to alternatives like zplug.