Zshell Fast Syntax Highlighting

60 commits that optimized standard zsh-syntax-highlighting to the point that it can edit 10 kB functions with zed/vared (optimizations done in history-search-multi-word). Also added:

1. Variable highlighting

   

2. Colorizing of ${(a)parameter[...]} inside strings (normally only $parameter is colorized)

   

3. Fixed colorizing of function definition, like abc() { ... } – abc will not be red

   

4. Fixed colorizing of complex conditions inside [[, like [[ "$a" || "$b" ]]

   

5. Closing ]] and ] are highlighted (see above)

6. Paths from $CDPATH aren't colorized unless the command is cd

7. Five 256-color themes, switched with fast-theme {theme-name} (also try -t option to obtain the below snippet):

   

8. Correct highlighting of descriptor-variables passed to exec:

   

9. Recursive eval and $( ) highlighting, with secondary theme (two themes active at the same time!):

   

Performance differencies can be observed at Asciinema recording, where 10 kB function is being edited:

Updates (2018)

2018-06-01

Highlighting of command substitution (i.e. $(...)) with alternate theme – two themes at once! It was just white before:

To select which theme to use for $(...) set the key secondary= in theme ini file. All shipped themes have this key set (only the default theme doesn't use second theme).

Also added correct highlighting of descriptor-variables passed to exec:

2018-05-30

For-loop is highlighted, it has separate settings in theme file.

2018-05-27

Added support for 256-color themes. There are six themes shipped with FSH. The command to switch theme is fast-theme {theme-name}, it has a completion which lists available themes and options. Checkout asciinema recording that presents the themes.

2018-05-25

Hash holding paths that shouldn't be grepped (globbed) – blacklist for slow disks, mounts, etc.:

typeset -gA FAST_BLIST_PATTERNS
FAST_BLIST_PATTERNS[/mount/nfs1/*]=1
FAST_BLIST_PATTERNS[/mount/disk2/*]=1

2018-05-23

Assign colorizing now spans to variables defined by typeset, export, local, etc.:

Also, zcalc has a separate math mode and specialized highlighting – no more light-red colors because of treating zcalc like a regular command-line:

2018-05-22

Array assignments were still boring, so I throwed in bracked colorizing:

2018-05-22

Assignments are no more one-colour default-white. When used in assignment, highlighted are:

• variables (outside strings),
• strings (double-quoted and single-quoted),
• math-mode (val=$(( ... ))).

2018-01-06

Math mode is highlighted – expressions (( ... )) and $(( ... )). Empty variables are colorized as red. There are 3 style names (fields of FAST_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES hash) for math-variable, number and empty variable (error): mathvar, mathnum, matherr. You can set them (like the animation below shows) to change colors.

Installation

The plugin is "standalone", which means that only sourcing it is needed. So to install, unpack fast-syntax-highlighting somewhere and add

source {where-fsh-is}/fast-syntax-highlighting.plugin.zsh

to zshrc.

If using a plugin manager, then Zplugin is recommended, but you can use any other too, and also install with Oh My Zsh (by copying directory to ~/.oh-my-zsh/custom/plugins).

Zplugin

Add zplugin light zdharma/fast-syntax-highlighting to your .zshrc file. Zplugin will handle cloning the plugin for you automatically the next time you start zsh. To update issue zplugin update zdharma/fast-syntax-highlighting (update --all can also be used).

Zplugin can load f-sy-h in turbo-mode, i.e. after prompt, to speed-up .zshrc processing:

zplugin ice wait"1" # 1 second after prompt
zplugin light zdharma/fast-syntax-highlighting

Antigen

Add antigen bundle zdharma/fast-syntax-highlighting to your .zshrc file. Antigen will handle cloning the plugin for you automatically the next time you start zsh.

Oh-My-Zsh

1. cd ~/.oh-my-zsh/custom/plugins
2. git clone https://github.com/zdharma/fast-syntax-highlighting.git
3. Add fast-syntax-highlighting to your plugin list

Zgen

Add zgen load zdharma/fast-syntax-highlighting to your .zshrc file in the same place you're doing your other zgen load calls in.