Jamie's PS1 collection, and how to customize your bash prompt

2007-07-31

Restored in 2026 from the Wayback Machine. This post still gets linked from Ask Ubuntu and friends, so here it is again, unedited.

Tired of your dull bash prompt?

A very dull PS1

Various bash prompts follow, for my reference and hopefully your inspiration. At the end I’ve compiled detailed docs on crafting your own sweet prompts.

Introducing PS1

What’s your current prompt?

echo $PS1

Try changing it:

export PS1='lolcatz$ '

Add that to your .profile or .bashrc for long-lasting fun

The Collection

The Classic (blue):

export PS1="[\u@\[\e[34;1m\]\H \[\e[0m\]\w]\$ "

The Classic (green):

export PS1="[\u@\[\e[32;1m\]\H \[\e[0m\]\w]\$ "

The Classic (magenta):

export PS1="[\u@\[\e[35;1m\]\H \[\e[0m\]\w]\$ "

My old BeOS prompt:

export PS1="\[\e[34;40m\]B\[\e[31;40m\]e \[\e[0m\]\[\e[37;40m\]\w\[\e[0m\]]\$ "

Minimalist:

export PS1="\h:\w]\$ "

Solaris Remix (bold white):

export PS1="[\[\e[28;1m\]\H \[\e[0m\]\w]\$ "

Ubuntu Remix (green/pink):

export PS1="\e[32;1m\]\u@\[\e[35;1m\]\H \[\e[0m\]\w]\$ "

D-lux

export PS1="\[\033[36m\][\t] \[\033[1;33m\]\u\[\033[0m\]@\h:\[\033[36m\][\w]:\[\033[0m\] "

Prompt in the titlebar (works with rxvt & Terminal.app)

export PS1="\[\e]2;\u@\H \w\a\e[32;1m\]>\[\e[0m\] "

Approval prompt (via Slashdot comment) (colored smileys depending on your success)

export PS1="\[\e[01;32m\]\u@\h \[\e[01;34m\]\W \`if [ \$? = 0 ]; then echo -e '\e[01;32m:)'; else echo -e '\e[01;31m:('; fi\` \[\e[01;34m\]$\[\e[00m\] "

Send me your pimp prompt and I’ll tack it on what what.

The Manual

Color escape code general syntax:

\e[XX;YYm]
XX = foreground color
YY = background color, but really text styling

Foreground colors

30 = black
31 = red
32 = green
33 = yellow
34 = blue
35 = magenta
36 = teal

Background colors are 40, 41, 42, etc.

Text styles:

0 = reset
1 = bold
4 = underline
5 = blink (!)
7 = invert background & foreground

Reset to plain (always put at the end!):

\[\e[0m\]

Available variables:

\u = your username
\H = full hostname, e.g. bob.example.com
\h = reduced hostname, e.g. bob
\w = full working directory, e.g. /home/jamie/bin
\W = basename of the working directory, e.g. bin
\t = time in 24-hour format
\# = command number
\$ = root identifier; $ for regular users, # for root
\T = time in 12-hour format
\l = terminal device, e.g. tty4
\j = number of background/suspended processes

References