Zsh is arguably the most powerful and configurable UNIX shell available. There are very few, if any, things that other shells can do that zsh can not. This is why zsh was chosen for this workshop.
Simply put with a cliche, it lets you get far more done in far less time.
| Aliases | Job Control |
| Functions | Easy and Flexible I/O redirection |
| Directory Stack | Command history |
| Command-line editing (vi, emacs, and custom modes) | Fully customizable keymaps |
| Lookup of usernames | Login/Logout monitoring |
| Superior Filename completion | Hostname completion |
| Username completion | History completion |
| Fully Programmable completion | Restricted shell Mode |
| Coprocesses | Builtin artithmetic evaluation |
| Can follow symbolic links invisibly | Local variables |
| Periodic command execution | Easy and Extensive Prompt Configuration |
| Sun Keyboard Hack | Spelling Correction |
| Process Substitution | Underlying sh Syntax |
| Checks Mailbox | File no clobber ability |
| Tty Sanity Checking | Can cope with large argument lists |
| Has non-interactive startup file | Has non-login startup file |
| Can avoid user startup files | List Variables |
| Full signal trap handling | Global Aliasing |
| Freely Available |