Setup CDK Shell

Overview

Complete shell environment optimized for Claude Code development. Installs modern zsh setup with fast prompt, nerd fonts, completions, and aliases.

When to Use

• Setting up shell for Claude development
• User asks about terminal/shell optimization
• Part of setup-claude-dev-kit bundle
• User wants zsh, powerlevel10k, or nerd fonts

Quick Reference

Installation Steps

1. Install Oh My Zsh (if needed)

# Check if installed
if [ ! -d ~/.oh-my-zsh ]; then
  sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh)" "" --unattended
fi

2. Install Powerlevel10k

# Clone theme
git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k.git \
  ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-$HOME/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/themes/powerlevel10k

# Or update if exists
cd ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-$HOME/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/themes/powerlevel10k && git pull

3. Install MesloLGS NF Fonts

macOS:

# Download fonts
curl -L -o /tmp/MesloLGS_NF_Regular.ttf "https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k-media/raw/master/MesloLGS%20NF%20Regular.ttf"
curl -L -o /tmp/MesloLGS_NF_Bold.ttf "https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k-media/raw/master/MesloLGS%20NF%20Bold.ttf"
curl -L -o /tmp/MesloLGS_NF_Italic.ttf "https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k-media/raw/master/MesloLGS%20NF%20Italic.ttf"
curl -L -o /tmp/MesloLGS_NF_Bold_Italic.ttf "https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k-media/raw/master/MesloLGS%20NF%20Bold%20Italic.ttf"

# Install to user fonts
mkdir -p ~/Library/Fonts
mv /tmp/MesloLGS_NF_*.ttf ~/Library/Fonts/

Linux:

mkdir -p ~/.local/share/fonts
# Same curl commands, then:
mv /tmp/MesloLGS_NF_*.ttf ~/.local/share/fonts/
fc-cache -fv

4. Install Useful Plugins

# zsh-autosuggestions
git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions \
  ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions

# zsh-syntax-highlighting
git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting \
  ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-syntax-highlighting

5. Configure .zshrc

Add/update in ~/.zshrc:

# At the very top (instant prompt)
if [[ -r "${XDG_CACHE_HOME:-$HOME/.cache}/p10k-instant-prompt-${(%):-%n}.zsh" ]]; then
  source "${XDG_CACHE_HOME:-$HOME/.cache}/p10k-instant-prompt-${(%):-%n}.zsh"
fi

# Theme
ZSH_THEME="powerlevel10k/powerlevel10k"

# Plugins
plugins=(git zsh-autosuggestions zsh-syntax-highlighting)

# At the bottom
[[ -f ~/.p10k.zsh ]] && source ~/.p10k.zsh

6. Install Claude CLI Completions

mkdir -p ~/.zsh/completions

# Generate completions (if claude supports it)
claude --completions zsh > ~/.zsh/completions/_claude 2>/dev/null || true

# Add to .zshrc
echo 'fpath=(~/.zsh/completions $fpath)' >> ~/.zshrc

7. Add Claude Aliases

cat >> ~/.zshrc << 'EOF'

# Claude Dev Kit aliases
alias cc='claude'
alias ccp='claude -p'
alias cch='claude --help'
alias ccv='claude --version'
alias ccc='claude --continue'
alias ccr='claude --resume'
EOF

8. Configure Terminal Font

Terminal.app: Preferences → Profiles → Text → Font → "MesloLGS NF"

iTerm2: Preferences → Profiles → Text → Font → "MesloLGS NF"

VS Code: Add to settings.json:

"terminal.integrated.fontFamily": "MesloLGS NF"

9. Run p10k Configuration

# Interactive wizard
p10k configure

Verification

# Check components
[ -d ~/.oh-my-zsh ] && echo "✓ Oh My Zsh"
[ -d ~/.oh-my-zsh/custom/themes/powerlevel10k ] && echo "✓ Powerlevel10k"
ls ~/Library/Fonts/MesloLGS* 2>/dev/null && echo "✓ Fonts installed"
[ -f ~/.p10k.zsh ] && echo "✓ p10k configured"
command -v claude && echo "✓ Claude CLI"

Adaptation Mode

When existing shell setup detected:

1. Backup .zshrc:

cp ~/.zshrc ~/.claude-dev-kit/backups/$(date +%Y-%m-%d)/.zshrc.bak

2. Check for conflicts:

• Starship prompt → Ask: keep or try p10k?
• Existing theme → Preserve or replace?
• Custom plugins → Merge, don't overwrite

3. Append, don't replace:

echo "# Claude Dev Kit Shell Additions" >> ~/.zshrc

Common Issues

Updating

# Update powerlevel10k
cd ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/themes/powerlevel10k && git pull

# Update plugins
cd ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions && git pull
cd ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-syntax-highlighting && git pull