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Prompt Customization

Hash shell supports powerful prompt customization through the PS1 variable.

Default Prompt

/home/user/projects git:(main) #>
  • Blue current path
  • Green git: (yellow if dirty)
  • Cyan branch name
  • Blue #> (red if last command failed)

Quick Start

In ~/.hashrc:

# Simple prompt
set PS1='\W #> '

# Full path with git
set PS1='\w\g \e#>\e '

# User@host:path
set PS1='\u@\h:\w\$ '

Or as environment variable:

export PS1='\w\g \e#>\e '

Escape Sequences

Path Information

SequenceDescriptionExample
\wFull current path/home/user/projects
\WCurrent directory onlyprojects

User Information

SequenceDescription
\uUsername
\hHostname
\$$ for user, # for root

Git Integration

SequenceDescription
\gGit branch with status

The \g sequence:

  • Shows nothing outside git repos
  • Shows git:(branch) in repos
  • git: is green if clean, yellow if dirty
  • Branch name is cyan

Exit Code Indicator

SequenceDescription
\eSets color based on exit code

Use \e before and after text:

set PS1='\w \e#>\e '
#           ^  ^
#           |  Reset color
#           Set color (blue=success, red=fail)

Special Characters

SequenceDescription
\nNewline
\\Literal backslash

Example Prompts

Minimal

set PS1='\W #> '
# Output: projects #>

Classic

set PS1='\u@\h:\w \$ '
# Output: user@hostname:/home/user $

Full Path with Git

set PS1='\w\g \e#>\e '
# Output: /home/user/projects git:(main) #>

Two-Line

set PS1='\w\g\n\e#>\e '
# Output:
# /home/user/projects git:(main)
# #>

Powerline Style

set PS1='\u@\h \w\g\n\e\e '

Color Behavior

Path Colors

\w and \W are bold blue

Git Colors

  • git: is green when clean
  • git: is yellow when dirty
  • Branch name is cyan

Exit Code Colors

  • \e sets blue on success (exit 0)
  • \e sets red on failure (exit non-zero)

Tips

Test Before Setting

#> export PS1='\W\g \e#>\e '
projects git:(main) #>

Keep It Simple

Complex prompts can slow down the shell:

# Fast
set PS1='\W #> '

# Slower (git checks)
set PS1='\w\g \e#>\e '

Two-Line for Long Paths

set PS1='\w\g\n\e#>\e '

Disable Git in Large Repos

set PS1='\w \e#>\e '  # No \g

Troubleshooting

Colors Not Showing

Enable colors:

set colors=on

Check terminal:

echo $TERM
# Should be xterm-256color or similar

Git Branch Not Showing

Verify you’re in a git repo:

git status

Ensure \g is in your PS1.

Exit Colors Not Working

Wrap characters between two \e:

# Wrong
set PS1='\w \e#> '

# Correct
set PS1='\w \e#>\e '

Comparison with Bash

Similar

  • \w, \W, \u, \h, \$ work the same
  • Color support
  • Environment variable support

Hash-Specific

  • \g - Git integration
  • \e - Exit code color
  • Automatic ~ substitution

Not Supported (Yet)

  • \d - Date
  • \t - Time
  • \! - History number
  • \[ and \] - Non-printing sequences