Basic bash prompt information

Variables and files

.bashrc: the RC file where all of this stuff can be set

PS1: main prompt variable

PS2: continuation prompt

PROMPT_COMMAND: a bash function name, run every time prompt is displayed

Colors

Uses escape sequences

There are problems with prompts and escape sequences

Multiple escaping

String interpretation and variable expansion

tput to the rescue!

Takes away the need for complex escape codes

Must run tput init at the beginning of your .bashrc file

TL;DR: Use tput for color strings, add them at the last possible moment, with brackets and backslashes

Embedding bash scripts

Single quotes are king

Will be run every time PS1 is evaluated

Otherwise, only run at time of assignment

Layout of my prompt

Two lines

Information/status line

Prompt line

Status line

Starts with current username

Changes color when user has mail

Next is the hostname (truncated)

Separated by an @ symbol, like an email address

Changes color when the system is in need of a reboot

Checks for /run/reboot_required

Current directory

Separated from previous items by a pipe

Truncated with a tilde if user's home is in the path

Prepended with a number indicating the directory stack, if present

Appended with the git (±) symbol if we're in a git branch, followed by the name of the branch

Prompt line

A blue » character

Prepended with the number of background processes spawned from this terminal

Screenshot:

Link to Git Repository

https://gitlab.com/windigo-configs/bash.git

Editor's Note: added 2017-08-05