Make Ubuntu Terminal Look Like Kali Linux [2023]

Tutorial To Make Ubuntu Terminal Look Like Kali Linux

In this Ubuntu Tutorial Post, we will help you to make your Ubuntu terminal look like Kali Linux. Ubuntu is a popular Linux-based operating system and is most preferred by beginners while Kali Linux is popular for security purposes.

Make Ubuntu Terminal Look Like Kali Linux

The first step is to install zsh shell, zshell plugins and some additional tools in your Ubuntu.

Installing ZSH on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

The Z shell is an interactive shell that incorporates many features like bash, fish, dash, and ksh. Run the following command to install ZSH on Ubuntu-based operating systems.

sudo apt update

sudo apt install zsh

After installation is complete,  run the zsh command to switch from the bash prompt. You will see a z shell configuration prompt where you need to select option zero from the prompt and hit enter.

Now, it’s time to install Z shell plugins.

sudo apt install zsh-syntax-highlighting zsh-autosuggestions

Run the following command to change your default login shell to z shell.

chsh -s /bin/zsh

Modifying the zshrc file

If you want to customize then you need to tweak the zshrc file and which is located in your home directory (~/.zshrc). zshrc is a hidden file so you need to configure your system to see the hidden file. Sometimes the file may not be available, so you must create or delete it if it is already available.

To delete the file run the following command:

rm ~/.zshrc

To create a new file simply run this command:

touch ~/.zshrc

After you have successfully created the .zshrc file, open it with your preferred text editor, copy and paste the following content into your .zshrc file, and save.

# ~/.zshrc file for zsh interactive shells.

# see /usr/share/doc/zsh/examples/zshrc for examples

setopt autocd # change directory just by typing its name

#setopt correct # auto correct mistakes

setopt interactivecomments # allow comments in interactive mode

setopt magicequalsubst # enable filename expansion for arguments of the form ‘anything=expression’

setopt nonomatch # hide error message if there is no match for the pattern

setopt notify # report the status of background jobs immediately

setopt numericglobsort # sort filenames numerically when it makes sense

setopt promptsubst # enable command substitution in prompt


WORDCHARS=${WORDCHARS//\/} # Don't consider certain characters part of the word


# hide EOL sign ('%')

PROMPT_EOL_MARK=""

# configure key keybindings

bindkey -e # emacs key bindings

bindkey ' ' magic-space # do history expansion on space

bindkey '^U' backward-kill-line # ctrl + U

bindkey '^[[3;5~' kill-word # ctrl + Supr

bindkey '^[[3~' delete-char # delete

bindkey '^[[1;5C' forward-word # ctrl + ->

bindkey '^[[1;5D' backward-word # ctrl + <-

bindkey '^[[5~' beginning-of-buffer-or-history # page up

bindkey '^[[6~' end-of-buffer-or-history # page down

bindkey '^[[H' beginning-of-line # home

bindkey '^[[F' end-of-line # end

bindkey '^[[Z' undo # shift + tab undo last action

# enable completion features

autoload -Uz compinit

compinit -d ~/.cache/zcompdump

zstyle ':completion:*:*:*:*:*' menu select

zstyle ':completion:*' auto-description 'specify: %d'

zstyle ':completion:*' completer _expand _complete

zstyle ':completion:*' format 'Completing %d'

zstyle ':completion:*' group-name ''

zstyle ':completion:*' list-colors ''

zstyle ':completion:*' list-prompt %SAt %p: Hit TAB for more, or the character to insert%s

zstyle ':completion:*' matcher-list 'm:{a-zA-Z}={A-Za-z}'

zstyle ':completion:*' rehash true

zstyle ':completion:*' select-prompt %SScrolling active: current selection at %p%s

zstyle ':completion:*' use-compctl false

zstyle ':completion:*' verbose true

zstyle ':completion:*:kill:*' command 'ps -u $USER -o pid,%cpu,tty,cputime,cmd'

# History configurations

HISTFILE=~/.zsh_history

HISTSIZE=1000

SAVEHIST=2000

setopt hist_expire_dups_first # delete duplicates first when HISTFILE size exceeds HISTSIZE

setopt hist_ignore_dups # ignore duplicated commands history list

setopt hist_ignore_space # ignore commands that start with space

setopt hist_verify # show command with history expansion to user before running it

#setopt share_history # share command history data

# force zsh to show the complete history

alias history="history 0"


# configure `time` format

TIMEFMT=$'\nreal\t%E\nuser\t%U\nsys\t%S\ncpu\t%P'

# make less more friendly for non-text input files, see lesspipe(1)

#[ -x /usr/bin/lesspipe ] && eval "$(SHELL=/bin/sh lesspipe)"

# set variable identifying the chroot you work in (used in the prompt below)

if [ -z "${debian_chroot:-}" ] && [ -r /etc/debian_chroot ]; then

debian_chroot=$(cat /etc/debian_chroot)

fi

# set a fancy prompt (non-color, unless we know we "want" color)

case "$TERM" in

xterm-color|*-256color) color_prompt=yes;;

esac
# uncomment for a colored prompt, if the terminal has the capability; turned

# off by default to not distract the user: the focus in a terminal window

# should be on the output of commands, not on the prompt

force_color_prompt=yes

if [ -n "$force_color_prompt" ]; then

if [ -x /usr/bin/tput ] && tput setaf 1 >&/dev/null; then

# We have color support; assume it's compliant with Ecma-48

# (ISO/IEC-6429). (Lack of such support is extremely rare, and such

# a case would tend to support setf rather than setaf.)

color_prompt=yes

else

color_prompt=

fi

fi

configure_prompt() {

prompt_symbol=㉿

# Skull emoji for root terminal

#[ "$EUID" -eq 0 ] && prompt_symbol=?

case "$PROMPT_ALTERNATIVE" in

twoline)

PROMPT=$'%F{%(#.blue.green)}┌──${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)─}${VIRTUAL_ENV:+($(basename $VIRTUAL_ENV))─}(%B%F{%(#.red.blue)}%n'$prompt_symbol$'%m%b%F{%(#.blue.green)})-[%B%F{reset}%(6~.%-1~/…/%4~.%5~)%b%F{%(#.blue.green)}]\n└─%B%(#.%F{red}#.%F{blue}$)%b%F{reset} '

# Right-side prompt with exit codes and background processes

#RPROMPT=$'%(?.. %? %F{red}%B⨯%b%F{reset})%(1j. %j %F{yellow}%B⚙%b%F{reset}.)'

;;

oneline)

PROMPT=$'${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}${VIRTUAL_ENV:+($(basename $VIRTUAL_ENV))}%B%F{%(#.red.blue)}%n@%m%b%F{reset}:%B%F{%(#.blue.green)}%~%b%F{reset}%(#.#.$) '

RPROMPT=

;;

backtrack)

PROMPT=$'${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}${VIRTUAL_ENV:+($(basename $VIRTUAL_ENV))}%B%F{red}%n@%m%b%F{reset}:%B%F{blue}%~%b%F{reset}%(#.#.$) '

RPROMPT=

;;

esac

unset prompt_symbol

}

# The following block is surrounded by two delimiters.

# These delimiters must not be modified. Thanks.

# START KALI CONFIG VARIABLES

PROMPT_ALTERNATIVE=twoline

NEWLINE_BEFORE_PROMPT=yes

# STOP KALI CONFIG VARIABLES

if [ "$color_prompt" = yes ]; then

# override default virtualenv indicator in prompt

VIRTUAL_ENV_DISABLE_PROMPT=1

configure_prompt

# enable syntax-highlighting

if [ -f /usr/share/zsh-syntax-highlighting/zsh-syntax-highlighting.zsh ]; then

. /usr/share/zsh-syntax-highlighting/zsh-syntax-highlighting.zsh

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_HIGHLIGHTERS=(main brackets pattern)

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[default]=none

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[unknown-token]=fg=white,underline

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[reserved-word]=fg=cyan,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[suffix-alias]=fg=green,underline

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[global-alias]=fg=green,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[precommand]=fg=green,underline

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[commandseparator]=fg=blue,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[autodirectory]=fg=green,underline

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[path]=bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[path_pathseparator]=

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[path_prefix_pathseparator]=

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[globbing]=fg=blue,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[history-expansion]=fg=blue,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[command-substitution]=none

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[command-substitution-delimiter]=fg=magenta,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[process-substitution]=none

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[process-substitution-delimiter]=fg=magenta,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[single-hyphen-option]=fg=green

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[double-hyphen-option]=fg=green

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[back-quoted-argument]=none

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[back-quoted-argument-delimiter]=fg=blue,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[single-quoted-argument]=fg=yellow

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[double-quoted-argument]=fg=yellow

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[dollar-quoted-argument]=fg=yellow

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[rc-quote]=fg=magenta

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[dollar-double-quoted-argument]=fg=magenta,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[back-double-quoted-argument]=fg=magenta,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[back-dollar-quoted-argument]=fg=magenta,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[assign]=none

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[redirection]=fg=blue,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[comment]=fg=black,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[named-fd]=none

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[numeric-fd]=none

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[arg0]=fg=cyan

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-error]=fg=red,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-level-1]=fg=blue,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-level-2]=fg=green,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-level-3]=fg=magenta,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-level-4]=fg=yellow,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-level-5]=fg=cyan,bold

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[cursor-matchingbracket]=standout

fi

else

PROMPT='${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}%n@%m:%~%(#.#.$) '

fi

unset color_prompt force_color_prompt


toggle_oneline_prompt(){

if [ "$PROMPT_ALTERNATIVE" = oneline ]; then

PROMPT_ALTERNATIVE=twoline

else

PROMPT_ALTERNATIVE=oneline

fi

configure_prompt

zle reset-prompt

}

zle -N toggle_oneline_prompt

bindkey ^P toggle_oneline_prompt


# If this is an xterm set the title to user@host:dir

case "$TERM" in

xterm*|rxvt*|Eterm|aterm|kterm|gnome*|alacritty)

TERM_TITLE=$'\e]0;${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}${VIRTUAL_ENV:+($(basename $VIRTUAL_ENV))}%n@%m: %~\a'

;;

*)

;;

esac

precmd() {

# Print the previously configured title

print -Pnr -- "$TERM_TITLE"

# Print a new line before the prompt, but only if it is not the first line

if [ "$NEWLINE_BEFORE_PROMPT" = yes ]; then

if [ -z "$_NEW_LINE_BEFORE_PROMPT" ]; then

_NEW_LINE_BEFORE_PROMPT=1

else

print ""

fi

fi

}


# enable color support of ls, less and man, and also add handy aliases

if [ -x /usr/bin/dircolors ]; then

test -r ~/.dircolors && eval "$(dircolors -b ~/.dircolors)" || eval "$(dircolors -b)"

export LS_COLORS="$LS_COLORS:ow=30;44:" # fix ls color for folders with 777 permissions


alias ls='ls --color=auto'

#alias dir='dir --color=auto'

#alias vdir='vdir --color=auto'

alias grep='grep --color=auto'

alias fgrep='fgrep --color=auto'

alias egrep='egrep --color=auto'

alias diff='diff --color=auto'

alias ip='ip --color=auto'

export LESS_TERMCAP_mb=$'\E[1;31m' # begin blink

export LESS_TERMCAP_md=$'\E[1;36m' # begin bold

export LESS_TERMCAP_me=$'\E[0m' # reset bold/blink

export LESS_TERMCAP_so=$'\E[01;33m' # begin reverse video

export LESS_TERMCAP_se=$'\E[0m' # reset reverse video

export LESS_TERMCAP_us=$'\E[1;32m' # begin underline

export LESS_TERMCAP_ue=$'\E[0m' # reset underline

# Take advantage of $LS_COLORS for completion as well

zstyle ':completion:*' list-colors "${(s.:.)LS_COLORS}"

zstyle ':completion:*:*:kill:*:processes' list-colors '=(#b) #([0-9]#)*=0=01;31'

fi

# some more ls aliases

alias ll='ls -l'

alias la='ls -A'

alias l='ls -CF'

# enable auto-suggestions based on the history

if [ -f /usr/share/zsh-autosuggestions/zsh-autosuggestions.zsh ]; then

. /usr/share/zsh-autosuggestions/zsh-autosuggestions.zsh

# change suggestion color

ZSH_AUTOSUGGEST_HIGHLIGHT_STYLE='fg=#999'

fi


# enable command-not-found if installed

if [ -f /etc/zsh_command_not_found ]; then

. /etc/zsh_command_not_found

fi

compinit

To make the changes take effect, run the following command:

$ source .zshrc
$ . .zshrc

Now, Download color schemes and themes with the following command:

git clone https://github.com/linuxopsys/ubuntu-to-kali-terminal.git

cd ubuntu-to-kali-terminal

Now extract the compressed files:

tar -xvf color-schemes.tar
tar -xvf kali-dark-theme.tar

You will notice a new directory name “usr” in your current working directory.

Now you need to remove the qtermwidget5 directory located in the /usr/share directory and replace it with one from the extracted tar file.

sudo rm -rf /usr/share/qtermwidget5
sudo mv -f usr/share/qtermwidget5 /usr/share

Now its time to Change Qterminal settings

• Open your Qterminal preferences
• Change the color scheme to Kali-Dark and then press the Apply button
• At the bottom of your terminal’s Appearance settings, Adjust the “Application transparency” from “0%” to “5%,”
• Click apply for the changes to take effect.

Now, it’s time to change the Ubuntu theme. Run the following command to move the Kali-Dark directory from the directory you extracted to /usr/share/themes directory.

sudo mv -f usr/share/themes/Kali-Dark /usr/share/themes

Now, you can tweak your setting by going to the gnome-tweaks by running the following command:

gnome-tweaks

Meanwhile, If you have Gnome Tweak Tool installed in Ubuntu then go through the following article:

Install Gnome Tweak Tool On Ubuntu