Install Kitty terminal and configure Zsh as the default shell under Xubuntu

Published on 07 May 2026 Updated on 2026-05-07

This guide explains step-by-step how to install the kitty terminal on Xubuntu, configure it correctly, and replace bash with zsh as the default shell. The kitty project is available here: https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty.

_ Kitty is a modern, fast, and configurable terminal, particularly suited for demanding developers. _

Why choose Kitty and Zsh?

Kitty stands out due to:

  • Superior performance thanks to GPU acceleration,

  • A configuration entirely based on a single text file,

  • Excellent support for fonts and ligatures.

Zsh, for its part, is a powerful interactive shell offering:

  • Intelligent completion,

  • A customizable prompt,

  • High compatibility with bash.

By combining Kitty and Zsh, you benefit from a productive and aesthetic environment.

kitty zsh overview

This guide is intentionally limited to installation via script and to Xubuntu.

System Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • Xubuntu installed,

  • internet access,

  • a functional bash shell to run the script.

Check your environment:

uname -a
lsb_release -a

Downloading and Installing Kitty

Kitty recommends installing it via an official script that places the files in`~/.local/kitty.app`.

This method is independent of package managers (no`apt`).

Download the installation script

Run the following command:

curl -L https://sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty/installer.sh | sh /dev/stdin

This command performs:

  • binary download,

  • extraction into`~/.local/kitty.app`,

  • creation of symbolic links.

download install

Creating Symbolic Links

In order to be able to invoke`kitty`from the terminal, create a symbolic link:

ln -s ~/.local/kitty.app/bin/kitty ~/.local/bin/kitty

Add`~/.local/bin`to your PATH if not already done:

echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

You can verify the installation:

kitty --version

Integrating Kitty into Xubuntu

For Kitty to appear in the applications menu:

Copy the desktop file

Copy the provided`.desktop`file:

cp ~/.local/kitty.app/share/applications/kitty.desktop ~/.local/share/applications/

Modify the desktop file

Edit the file:

nano ~/.local/share/applications/kitty.desktop

Check or modify the following lines:

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=Kitty Terminal
Comment=Fast GPU-based terminal emulator
Exec=/home/$USER/.local/kitty.app/bin/kitty
Icon=kitty
Categories=System;TerminalEmulator;

Replace`YOURUSER`with your username.

desktop integration

Set Kitty as the default terminal (optional)

To make Kitty the default terminal launched:

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/x-terminal-emulator x-terminal-emulator ~/.local/kitty.app/bin/kitty 50
sudo update-alternatives --config x-terminal-emulator

Select`kitty`in the proposed menu.

Installing Zsh

If Zsh is not yet installed, run:

sudo apt install zsh

Verify the installation:

zsh --version

Set Zsh as the default shell

You can change your shell globally or only within Kitty.

Global Method (for all terminals)

Identify the absolute path:

which zsh

Generally`/usr/bin/zsh`.

Modify the default shell:

chsh -s /usr/bin/zsh

Log out and log back in.

zsh default shell

Kitty-specific Method

If you prefer to only change the shell in Kitty, edit the configuration file:

nano ~/.config/kitty/kitty.conf

Add this line:

shell zsh

Save and restart Kitty.

Zsh Configuration (optional)

To customize your Zsh:

Create a .zshrc file

touch ~/.zshrc
nano ~/.zshrc

Example of a minimal configuration

export ZSH_THEME="robbyrussell"
export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
alias ll="ls -la"

Complete Workflow Summary

The diagram below summarizes the entire process:

full workflow

Final Verification

Launch Kitty:

kitty

You should see that`zsh`is active:

echo $SHELL

Expected result:

/usr/bin/zsh

To change the font size inKitty, you must adjust the`font_size`parameter in the configuration file. Here is the detailed procedure:

📂 Open the configuration file

The main configuration file is usually located in:

~/.config/kitty/kitty.conf

If this file does not exist yet, you can create it. Example:

nano ~/.config/kitty/kitty.conf

🖋️ Add or modify font_size

Add the following directive, or modify it if it already exists:

font_size 14.0

Here`14.0`corresponds to the desired size. You can use any decimal value, for example`12.0`, 15.5, etc.

💾 Save and relaunch Kitty

  • Save (Ctrl + O, then`Entrée`) and quit (Ctrl + X) if you are using`nano`.

  • Close all Kitty windows, then relaunch the terminal for the change to take effect.

✅ Dynamic Adjustment (Temporary Zoom)

If you wish to zoom in/out temporarily without modifying the configuration, use the default keyboard shortcuts:

  • Increase font size:

Ctrl + Shift + =

  • Decrease font size:

Ctrl + Shift + -

  • Reset size:

Ctrl + Shift + Backspace

These settings do not persist after closing the terminal.

Installation and Configuration of Oh My Zsh

Once Zsh is installed and configured as the default shell, you can enrich your environment with Oh My Zsh, a Zsh configuration management framework, offering:

  • a collection of themes for the prompt,

  • numerous plugins,

  • a clear organization of the configuration.

Installing Oh My Zsh

Ensure that Zsh is active:

zsh --version

If necessary, run:

zsh

Then download and run the official installation script:

sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh)"

This script:

  • creates the`~/.oh-my-zsh`,

  • folder, optionally backs up your`~/.zshrc`,

  • file, and automatically activates the new prompt.

Changing the Theme

Open your configuration file:

nano ~/.zshrc

Modify the`ZSH_THEME`variable to choose another theme (for example`agnoster`):

ZSH_THEME="agnoster"

Save and then reload the configuration:

source ~/.zshrc

Verification

Launch Kitty and verify that the prompt has indeed changed. You can confirm that Oh My Zsh is active by running:

echo $ZSH

The result should be similar to:

/home/your_user/.oh-my-zsh

Use case diagram

ohmyzsh installation

Enabling Translucency in Kitty

One of the most appreciated features of Kitty is the ability to add transparency to the terminal background. This allows you to slightly see the underlying environment (window, desktop, etc.), which is particularly useful for multitasking.

Prerequisites for Transparency

Transparency in Kitty relies on thewindow compositorused by the graphical environment. Under Xubuntu (based on XFCE), ensure thatcomposition is enabled.

To check:

  • right-click on the desktop > Settings >Window Manager Tweaks,

  • tabCompositor: the "Enable display compositing" box must be checked.

transparency usecase

Configuring Transparency in kitty.conf

Open your configuration file`~/.config/kitty/kitty.conf`:

nano ~/.config/kitty/kitty.conf

Add or modify the following lines:

background_opacity 0.85

This parameter accepts values between:

  • 1.0→ opaque (no transparency),

  • 0.0→ completely transparent (unusable),

  • intermediate values such as`0.90`, 0.75, etc.

A good visual compromise is generally between`0.85` et 0.95.

Restart Kitty

Close all Kitty instances, then launch a new window for the changes to take effect:

kitty

Possible Additions

If you use a custom terminal background, you can also define a background color with transparency (in RGBA):

background #1e1e2eff

The last component (ff) indicates the opacity (from`00` à ff).

Sequence Diagram - Kitty Initialization with Transparency

transparency sequence

Known Limitations

Translucency does not work if: - the XFCE compositor is disabled, - an incompatible window manager is used, - you are using Kitty in a tmux background mode without transparency support.

Disabling the Audible Bell

By default, Kitty emits a beep sound when an erroneous command is entered or when a terminal event triggers it. This noise can quickly become annoying, especially in an intensive development environment.

To disable this behavior, add the following directive to the`~/.config/kitty/kitty.conf`file:

audible_bell no

You can also enable a visual bell as a replacement for the audible beep with:

visual_bell yes

Updating Kitty

Since Kitty is installed via a script and not a package manager, the update is done by relaunching the official installation script. This allows downloading the latest version and updating your existing installation in`~/.local/kitty.app`.

The`.app`suffix in the`~/.local/kitty.app`path is the Kitty installation convention on Linux via its official script, and in no way indicates exclusive compatibility with macOS.

Before running the update command, ensure you are in your home directory (~).

Execute the following command from your home directory:

curl -L https://sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty/installer.sh | sh /dev/stdin

This script will:

  • Download the binaries of the new version.

  • Extract the files into`~/.local/kitty.app`.

  • Update symbolic links if necessary.

After the update, it is recommended to close all Kitty instances and relaunch them to ensure that the new version is properly taken into account.

References

If you wish to deepen your customization, consult the official documentation:

Conclusion

You now have:

  • a modern and high-performance terminal (Kitty)

  • a powerful and customizable shell (Zsh)

  • a clean configuration independent of system packages

  • an aesthetic and functional terminal equipped with Oh My Zsh

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