[Q] Error when using fzf-tab's preview feature

[NathanGrenier]

Describe your question

• Windows 10
• zsh
• installed with zinit

Getting a weird error when using the preview feature in zsh. Not quite sure what to do to resolve it.

This is my .zshrc file:

# Enable Powerlevel10k instant prompt. Should stay close to the top of ~/.zshrc.
# Initialization code that may require console input (password prompts, [y/n]
# confirmations, etc.) must go above this block; everything else may go below.
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

# Set the directory we want to store zinit and plugins
ZINIT_HOME="${XDG_DATA_HOME:-${HOME}/.local/share}/zinit/zinit.git"

# Download Zinit, if it's not there yet
if [ ! -d "$ZINIT_HOME" ]; then
        mkdir -p "$(dirname $ZINIT_HOME)"
        git clone https://github.com/zdharma-continuum/zinit.git "$ZINIT_HOME"
fi

# Source/Load zinit
source "${ZINIT_HOME}/zinit.zsh"

# Add Powerlevel10k
zinit ice depth=1; zinit light romkatv/powerlevel10k

# To customize prompt, run `p10k configure` or edit ~/.p10k.zsh.
[[ ! -f ~/.p10k.zsh ]] || source ~/.p10k.zsh

# Install zsh plugins
zinit light Aloxaf/fzf-tab
zinit light zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting
zinit light zsh-users/zsh-completions
zinit light zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions

# Add in snippets
zinit snippet OMZP::git

# Load completions
autoload -U compinit && compinit

zinit cdreplay -q

# History
HISTSIZE=5000
HISTFILE=~/.zsh_history
SAVEHIST=$HISTSIZE
HISTDUP=erase
setopt appendhistory
setopt sharehistory
setopt hist_ignore_space
setopt hist_ignore_all_dups
setopt hist_save_no_dups
setopt hist_ignore_dups
setopt hist_find_no_dups

# Completion styling
zstyle ':completion:*' matcher-list 'm:{a-z}={A-Za-z}'
zstyle ':completion:*' list-colors "${(s.:.)LS_COLORS}"
zstyle ':completion:*' menu no
zstyle ':fzf-tab:complete:cd:*' fzf-preview 'ls --color $realpath'
zstyle ':fzf-tab:complete:__zoxide_z:*' fzf-preview 'ls --color $realpath'

# keybindings
bindkey '^f' autosuggest-accept
bindkey '^p' history-search-backward
bindkey '^n' history-search-forward

# Aliases
alias cl='clear'
alias ls='ls --color'

# Shell integrations
[ -f ~/.fzf.zsh ] && source ~/.fzf.zsh
eval "$(zoxide init zsh)"

# Navigate to home directory
cd ~

Screenshot of the Error

[jathek]

getting the same error. I'm wondering if the git-for-windows environment needs some adjustment from fzf-tab to work, because these dotfiles work fine on a linux box.

• Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19045.4291]
• zsh 5.9 (x86_64-pc-msys)
• eza v0.18.16 (installed with winget install eza-community.eza -i)
• antidote as plugin manager

Note: I'm trying to use eza, but ls also fails with the same error.

.zshrc

#!/bin/zsh
#
# .zshrc - Zsh file loaded on interactive shell sessions.
#

# Enable Powerlevel10k instant prompt. Should stay close to the top of ~/.zshrc.
# Initialization code that may require console input (password prompts, [y/n]
# confirmations, etc.) must go above this block; everything else may go below.
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

# set zsh options
setopt extended_glob

# clone antidote if necessary
[[ -d ${ZDOTDIR:-~}/.antidote ]] || git clone https://github.com/mattmc3/antidote ${ZDOTDIR:-~}/.antidote # https://github.com/getantidote/antidote is stable
# change antidote home directory - default on windows is %LocalAppData%/antidote
export ANTIDOTE_HOME=${ZDOTDIR:-~}/.antidote_home

# set the name of the static .zsh plugins file antidote will generate
zsh_plugins=${ZDOTDIR:-~}/.antidote.zsh_plugins.zsh
# ensure you have a $zsh_plugins_list file where you can add plugins
zsh_plugins_list=${zsh_plugins:r}_list.zsh
[[ -f ${zsh_plugins_list} ]] || touch ${zsh_plugins_list}
# source zstyles you might use with antidote
[[ -e ${ZDOTDIR:-~}/.antidote.zstyles.zsh ]] && source ${ZDOTDIR:-~}/.antidote.zstyles.zsh
# lazy-load antidote
fpath+=(${ZDOTDIR:-~}/.antidote)
autoload -Uz $fpath[-1]/antidote
# generate static file in a subshell when $zsh_plugins_list is updated
alias al="antidote bundle <${zsh_plugins_list} >|$zsh_plugins"
if [[ ! $zsh_plugins -nt ${zsh_plugins_list} ]]; then
  (al)
fi
# source your static plugins file
source $zsh_plugins

# autoload for prompts - see $zsh_plugins_list for explanation
export ZSH_THEME='powerlevel10k'
autoload -Uz promptinit && promptinit && prompt ${ZSH_THEME}

# to customize prompt, run `p10k configure` or edit ~/.p10k.zsh.
[[ ! -f ~/.p10k.zsh ]] || source ~/.p10k.zsh

# source .profile
[[ ! -f ~/.profile ]] || . ~/.profile

.antidote.zsh_plugins_list.zsh

#!/bin/zsh
#
# .zsh_plugins.txt - antidote plugins file
#
# copied from https://github.com/getantidote/zdotdir/blob/1a34e6dd3d78862c82ba3babd19bd8c882c77d65/.zsh_plugins.txt


### Overview
#
# The `.zsh_plugins.txt` file is used by antidote to configure Zsh bundles. Bundles are
# just a fancy way of referring to Zsh utilities, frameworks, prompts, or plugins.
# `.zsh_plugins.txt` is used by antidote to generate a static `.zsh_plugins.zsh` file,
# which can then be sourced in your `.zshrc`. You can use this file as a starting point
# for your own config. Strip out instructional comments (ie: lines beginning with a '#')
# and any plugins you don't need, then add what you like and make it yours!
#
# NOTE: Order matters in this file! Some bundles need to be last, and others are
# prerequisites. Read the documentation for the plugins you use to ensure proper
# configuration.
#
###


### Completions
#
# You may want to add some additional completions to Zsh. Completions look in your fpath
# for completion functions, which are functions named with a leading underscore
# (eg: _git). You need to add all supplemental completions to your fpath prior to
# running `compinit` to use completions functionality properly. You will want to find
# a completion plugin that runs `compinit` for you, or you can run it yourself in
# your .zshrc after antidote loads like this:
#
#   autoload -Uz compinit && compinit
#
###
# zsh-users/zsh-completions is a popular plugin for adding supplemental completions.
# We combine the `path:` and `kind:fpath` annotations here:
jathek/zsh-completions path:src kind:fpath branch:custom

# With antidote, using Zephyr's completion plugin is recommended. This plugin is meant
# to be run near the TOP of your .zsh_plugins.txt file.
mattmc3/zephyr path:plugins/completion

# Most other compinit plugins should be near the END of .zsh_plugins.txt so that $fpath
# has been fully populated. One such plugin is zsh-utils and its completion subplugin.
# belak/zsh-utils path:completion


### Prompts
#
# You can make certain themes available to the built-in Zsh prompt command using the
# `kind:fpath` annotation. A theme is not active for the prompt until this command is
# run:
#
#   autoload -Uz promptinit && promptinit
#   prompt ${prompt_name:-pure}
#
# There are two ways to load prompts.
# - Add multiple prompt plugins to your `$fpath` with `kind:fpath` and then later in
#   your .zshrc run the Zsh built-in `prompt` to select the theme.
# - Or, just load one prompt like a regular plugin.
#
###
romkatv/powerlevel10k kind:fpath


### Frameworks
#
# Frameworks are a collection of Zsh features, settings, and plugins meant to ease
# Zsh configuration. Unfortunately, all that power can come with serious drawbacks.
# Frameworks can often set more settings or aliases than you need, cluttering your Zsh
# config and slowing things down. Use with caution!
#
# Frameworks are handled in antidote using the `path:location/of/plugin` annotation.
#
###

### Framework: Oh-My-Zsh
#
# Oh-My-Zsh is a very popular Zsh framework. You might choose to use plugins from OMZ
# in your own config. Depending on which plugins you use, you may also need to include
# OMZ's entire "lib" directory. If you do this, be careful - "lib" configures a lot of
# very broad settings. If you are familiar with what you are doing, you may choose to
# only include parts of "lib".
#
#   # use all of lib
#   ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh path:lib
#   # -OR-, only use only the specific files we care about
#   ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh path:lib/clipboard.zsh
#
####
ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh path:lib/key-bindings.zsh

# 🌬️ A Zsh framework as nice as a cool summer breeze
mattmc3/zephyr path:plugins/color
mattmc3/zephyr path:plugins/directory
# mattmc3/zephyr path:plugins/editor # use ohmyzsh for ctrl-del
mattmc3/zephyr path:plugins/environment
mattmc3/zephyr path:plugins/history
mattmc3/zephyr path:plugins/utility
mattmc3/zephyr path:plugins/zfunctions


### Regular Plugins
#
# Plugins are the simplest kind of bundles. You can point to a full git URL, or if you
# assume GitHub.com, then you can use the user/repo shorthand.
#
###
# rummik/zsh-tailf
# mattmc3/zman
# zle tweak for emulating `...'==`../..' etc.
yoogottamk/zsh-manydots-magic
# 📎 ZSH plugin that reminds you to use existing aliases for commands you just typed
MichaelAquilina/zsh-you-should-use path:you-should-use.plugin.zsh
# Good-lookin' diffs. Actually… nah… The best-lookin' diffs. 🎉
so-fancy/diff-so-fancy
# Replace zsh's default completion selection menu with fzf!
Aloxaf/fzf-tab
# A ZSH plugin to set the terminal tab title according to current directory or running process. It's based (forked) from Oh-My-ZSH one.
trystan2k/zsh-tab-title


### widget wrapping plugins
# zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting # use zdharma-continuum/fast-syntax-highlighting instead
zdharma-continuum/fast-syntax-highlighting


### Final Plugins
#
# Remember plugin order matters! Put plugins that need run last at the bottom of your
# .zsh_plugins.txt file.
#
###
# These popular core plugins should be loaded at the end
zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions
zsh-users/zsh-history-substring-search

.antidote.zstyles.zsh

#!/bin/zsh
#
# .zstyles - Set zstyle settings for plugins that need them.
#

#
# Antidote
#

# friendly plugin directories - no 'https-COLON--SLASH--SLASH-github.com-SLASH-'
zstyle ':antidote:bundle' use-friendly-names 'yes'
# change default zsh_plugins.txt name
zstyle ':antidote:bundle' file ${zsh_plugins_list}

# Aloxaf/fzf-tab
# disable sort when completing `git checkout`
zstyle ':completion:*:git-checkout:*' sort false
# set descriptions format to enable group support
# NOTE: don't use escape sequences here, fzf-tab will ignore them
zstyle ':completion:*:descriptions' format '-- %d --'
# set list-colors to enable filename colorizing
zstyle ':completion:*' list-colors ${(s.:.)LS_COLORS}
# force zsh not to show completion menu, which allows fzf-tab to capture the unambiguous prefix
zstyle ':completion:*' menu no
# preview directory's content with eza when completing cd
zstyle ':fzf-tab:complete:cd:*' fzf-preview 'eza -1 --color=always $realpath'
# switch group using `<` and `>`
zstyle ':fzf-tab:*' switch-group '<' '>'

[Aloxaf]

what's the value of $ZSH_NAME on windows?

[jathek]

just "zsh"

[srouquette]

I kinda have the same problem, but it's most likely related to msys2.
If I run this simple command, I have the preview: fzf --preview='less {}'
But if I run with fzf-tab, I have this error:

(it tries to run zsh as if it was in the current dir)

If I fix the path to zsh, I have this new error:

It seems related to path resolution with the temp dir ?

To fix the path, I only added this in -ftb-fzf:

shell_cmd=$(which $ZSH_NAME)
SHELL=$shell_cmd $fzf_command \

[jathek]

I tried your zsh path fix and get the same (new) error as you. I agree there's a second issue with path resolution. $TEMP on Windows (with msys2 or git-for-windows) is /tmp, but behind the scenes it is actually a Windows path of C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Temp. The Windows path is being called by zsh at some point (asked by fzf?) and the \ are being interpreted as escape characters, so the path becomes invalid.

I did check my temp folder, and a folder is actually being created in the temp folder and populated with files by fzf-tab.

However, the /tmp/fzf-temp-123456789 temp files (from fzf?) aren't created anymore because of the path issue. If I remove the ZSH path fix, the /tmp/fzf-temp-123456789 files get created, but the zsh "file does not exist" error returns.

(the above folder from fzf-tab only gets created properly after the following change in -ftb-fzf. Without it, the folder is "zsh-fzf-tab-" instead of "zsh-fzf-tab-USERNAME")

- local tmp_dir=${TMPPREFIX:-/tmp/zsh}-fzf-tab-$USER
+ local tmp_dir=${TMPPREFIX:-/tmp/zsh}-fzf-tab-$(whoami)

[srouquette]

I checked fzf code:

func WriteTemporaryFile(data []string, printSep string) string {
	f, err := os.CreateTemp("", "fzf-temp-*")
	if err != nil {
		// Unable to create temporary file
		// FIXME: Should we terminate the program?
		return ""
	}

🤣

as for msys2, they may rewrite some code during compilation to make it work. For example, git-for-windows only works in MINGW64, they didn't port it to UCRT64 or CLANG64.

I check how fzf was compiled and they didn't do anything special. but still, fzf works fine in other cases.

now... try this on your command line: zsh $(which fzf)

it doesn't work anymore, but I'm not sure if it should work in the first place...

[xd003]

Can confirm that its not working on windows msys2 zsh, works fine for me on linux
Although i don't get any error as in the screenshot posted by the OP, previews just don't show up

[sylvain-rouquette]

I can have the preview if I'm using fzf + other app. The problem seems to come from fzf-tab.

my zdotdir. I have a preview with CTRL+T and ALT+C.

[xd003]

I can have the preview if I'm using fzf + other app. The problem seems to come from fzf-tab.

Just curious what is the alternative that you are talking about

[srouquette]

the default keybindings are already quite good. I added preview on CTRL+T and ALT+C. You can also autocomplete cd with
cd **<TAB>. I'm just missing the completion for command line parameters.

I'm using the OMZ plugin, and how I customized it with fd, eza and rg.