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zoxide can make directory navigation easier by jumping to places you have visited before; eza gives you a more informative way to list directory contents. They replace different parts of the familiar cd and ls workflow, and neither requires abandoning the traditional commands. The three-tool headline attached to the referenced article cannot be verified from the available excerpt, so this guide sticks to the two tools whose functions and setup are documented.
What each tool changes
| Tool | Job | How you use it | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
zoxide |
Navigate to directories you have used before | Enter a short query, or select a destination interactively with optional fzf | Install it and initialize it in your shell’s startup configuration |
eza |
Display directory contents and file metadata | Run it as a listing command; choose grid, detailed, recursive, or tree output | Install the binary and invoke it when you want a listing |
These are separate utilities, not a bundled replacement suite: zoxide integrates with your shell, while eza formats listings. Their project documentation describes their capabilities but does not establish independent speed or productivity gains.
Use eza to inspect files and directories
The eza project calls it “A modern replacement for ls.” Its documentation describes color distinctions for file types and metadata, plus support for symlinks, extended attributes, and Git information. Other documented features include tree views, hyperlinks, mount-point details, SELinux context output, relative dates, and configurable themes. These are project-described features, not benchmark results.
eza supports several ways to present a listing, including grid and one-line output, long details, recursive output, and tree views. It also documents sorting, showing hidden files, setting a depth limit, and options for icons and hyperlinks. Choose the output style that answers the question you have—for example, a tree when you need to see folder structure, or detailed output when you need metadata.
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Using eza does not mean ls disappears. You can run eza when its presentation options help and keep ls available for scripts, habits, or environments where it is already installed.
Use zoxide to revisit directories
zoxide is a navigation helper that records directories you visit and ranks them, so you can jump to a likely match using a short query. Its README describes it as “A smarter cd command, inspired by z and autojump.” Examples include:
z footo jump to a high-ranked directory matchingfoo.z foo barto search using multiple terms.z ..to move to a parent directory.z -to return to the previous directory.
The ordinary commands are z and zi; zoxide does not replace cd unless you configure it to. Initialization is shell-specific and must be added to your shell’s startup configuration. The project documents a --cmd cd option for exposing zoxide through the cd command name after initialization.
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For interactive destination selection, zi can use fzf. The zoxide documentation identifies fzf as optional, so basic ranked-query navigation does not depend on it. Directory scoring behavior can be adjusted with shell hooks, and _ZO_EXCLUDE_DIRS can exclude directory globs from the database.
Choose the setup that fits your shell
- Install each tool from a suitable package source. eza’s project README and installation material cover Linux availability and installation options. Package versions depend on the distribution and source you choose.
- Initialize zoxide in your shell. Follow the project’s shell-specific startup instructions, then open a new shell or reload its configuration so the integration takes effect.
- Try the default zoxide commands first. Use
zwith a directory name or query. Add--cmd cdonly if you specifically want zoxide to take over thecdcommand name. - Add fzf only if you want interactive selection. With it available, use
zito choose a destination from matches rather than relying only on a text query. - Run eza where you would otherwise list contents. Select the output options you need, such as detailed or tree output; keep using
lswhere its behavior is more useful or expected.
For a dated version reference, Debian unstable’s zoxide manpage documents version 0.9.8. That page was last updated 2026-04-16 and converted to HTML 2026-06-25; other distributions may package different versions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the three-tool headline does—and does not—establish
A mirror posted on 2026-08-20 reproduces the headline and introductory premise of the referenced article, but not its full list. The identity of the third tool and the author’s reasons for choosing it therefore cannot be confirmed from that excerpt. The documented distinction that is clear is between navigation with zoxide and directory listing with eza.
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