Deeper Shell Integration script for ZSH adding delay to tab completion

[Zwyx]

Adding the Deeper Shell Integration script for ZSH adds a 1~2 seconds delay to ZSH's tab completion, when the path includes ../ and the directory contains many files (like a Node project with a node_modules folder).

Without the deeper shell integration, when I type . . / p r o Tab a Tab Tab, the three completions happens instantly after each press of the Tab key:

If I just add the deeper shell integration, then when typing the same sequence, the three completions happens after a delay:

Operating system and version:

nvm debug output:

nvm --version: v0.40.3
$SHELL: /usr/bin/zsh
$SHLVL: 1
${NVM_DIR}: '${HOME}/.nvm'
$PREFIX: ''
shell version: 'zsh 5.8.1 (x86_64-ubuntu-linux-gnu)'
OS version: Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS  

nvm ls output:

       v14.21.2
       v16.18.0
       v18.20.5
       v20.18.3
->     v22.14.0
default -> node (-> v22.14.0)
iojs -> N/A (default)
unstable -> N/A (default)
node -> stable (-> v22.14.0) (default)
stable -> 22.14 (-> v22.14.0) (default)
lts/* -> lts/jod (-> v22.14.0)
lts/argon -> v4.9.1 (-> N/A)
lts/boron -> v6.17.1 (-> N/A)
lts/carbon -> v8.17.0 (-> N/A)
lts/dubnium -> v10.24.1 (-> N/A)
lts/erbium -> v12.22.12 (-> N/A)
lts/fermium -> v14.21.3 (-> N/A)
lts/gallium -> v16.20.2 (-> N/A)
lts/hydrogen -> v18.20.8 (-> N/A)
lts/iron -> v20.19.1 (-> N/A)
lts/jod -> v22.14.0

How did you install nvm?

Install script in readme.

What steps did you perform?

Add Deeper Shell Integration script for ZSH.

What happened?

Everything works, but I notice this delay.

What did you expect to happen?

No delay, like before adding the Deeper Shell Integration script.

Is there anything in any of your profile files that modifies the PATH?

No.

[ljharb]

Speeding that up sounds like a great improvement, but I don't use zsh so I can't help.

Perhaps @ohcibi (#1029) and @benwiley4000 (#1569) would be able to help?

[Devjosef]

@ljharb I might have jumped the gun on this one, but i decided to tackle the problem and have now submitted a PR. I included the code my test, my reasonings, and documentation. Excuse me for not asking to be assigned before actually tackling the problem.

[ljharb]

Issues in open source are never assigned. I’ll take a look at the pr, thanks.

[mr-utzig]

Hey everyone, I have take a look at the script and made some changes to it and ended up with this little fella:

# place this after nvm initialization!
autoload -Uz add-zsh-hook
load-nvmrc() { 
  if [ -f "./.nvmrc" ] && [ -s "./.nvmrc" ]; then
    echo ".nvmrc file found in pwd"
    nvm install "$(head -1 .nvmrc)"
  fi
}
add-zsh-hook chpwd load-nvmrc
load-nvmrc

Key points:

• The current script calls to nvm_find_nvmrc but actually there is no need since it will be always at the root of the project... I changed it to just checks if exists a .nvmrc file and it has content.
• The current script also checks if the version in the file is installed... I changed it to be a nvm install by default since this will auto check if the version is already installed and if so just use it...
• Also the current script changes the node version to the default when chpwd, in my case I would like to keep the node version and whenever I want to use the default I just open a new tab, but yet I know that it work in my case, maybe we could create some type of config like a env var NVM_DEFAULT_BEHAVIOUR where the user can set it to do what he want.

This one will change the version to default when chpwd

# place this after nvm initialization!
autoload -Uz add-zsh-hook
load-nvmrc() { 
  if [ -f "./.nvmrc" ] && [ -s "./.nvmrc" ]; then
    echo ".nvmrc file found in pwd"
    nvm install "$(head -1 .nvmrc)"
  elif [ -f "$OLDPWD/.nvmrc" ] && [ -s "$OLDPWD/.nvmrc" ]; then
    echo "Reverting to nvm default version"
    nvm use default
  fi
}
add-zsh-hook chpwd load-nvmrc
load-nvmrc

I know that it may not be accepted but it is a good work around while there is no definitive solution....
Hope this helps

[freedomfraternity1822-ux]

Mais uma denunciada! Com ips! Em sex., 17 de out. de 2025 às 08:25, Jordan Harband < ***@***.***> escreveu:

…

*ljharb* left a comment (nvm-sh/nvm#3606) <#3606 (comment)> Issues in open source are never assigned. I’ll take a look at the pr, thanks. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#3606 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/BWERXZFQ4FPTCMT5CYIQNYT3YDGZPAVCNFSM6AAAAACATHZZCOVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTIMJVGA3TQMBXGE> . You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[ljharb]

Why would it always be at the root of the project?

[mr-utzig]

Sorry for that, what I meant to say is that the nvm would always look for the .nvmrc file at the pwd, it won't look for the file on children folders.

[ljharb]

right - nvm_find_nvmrc searches upwards though, not downwards.