[SOLVED] default shell prompt

richman1234 · 07-08-2010, 10:11 AM

I have looked almost everywhere for how to change my default shell prompt. When I open my bash shell, the prompt is [fedora-dev@Fedora-Dev Documents]$. I would like it to open at fedora-dev@Fedora-Dev]$.

Can someone tell me where to change this at. I have looked in .bashrc, etc/profile, and environmental variables.

Thanks,
Rich

pr_deltoid · 07-08-2010, 10:20 AM

http://www.linuxconfig.org/Bash_prompt_basics
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/li.../l-tip-prompt/
EDIT: removed the first link and added two different ones.

imagine_me2 · 07-08-2010, 10:43 AM

How do you open your terminal? If you use any launcher check any command line arguments that may be passed.

vikas027 · 07-08-2010, 11:00 AM

PS1 variable is used to change or set shell prompt.

See this http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/howto-...up-prompt.html

Example
Add this line in your $HOME/.bash_profile

Code:

PS1="[\d \t \u@\h:\w ] $ "; export PS1

TB0ne · 07-08-2010, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richman1234

I have looked almost everywhere for how to change my default shell prompt. When I open my bash shell, the prompt is [fedora-dev@Fedora-Dev Documents]$. I would like it to open at fedora-dev@Fedora-Dev]$.

Can someone tell me where to change this at. I have looked in .bashrc, etc/profile, and environmental variables.

Thanks,
Rich

.bashrc is where you need to look. Specifically, you can set the PS1 environment variable to do what you want. I like how I've got mine, so I'll share:

Code:

PS1="\[\033[1;36m\][\u@\[\033[1;37m\]\h:\[\033[1;33m\]\w]\\$\[\033[0m\] "
SUDO_PS1="\[\033[1;31m\][\u@\[\033[1;37m\]\h:\[\033[1;33m\]\w]\\$\[\033[0m\] "

Yes, it looks horrible. However, those are actually color-codes, that affect the different variables. It actually comes out to be:
[username@Hostname:Working Directory]$

For a regular user. The Hostname: piece is white text (I use a black background on my terminal...your mileage may vary) When I SUDO (the SUDO_PS1 variable), into a shell, the user ID changes to "root@" in bright red. That way, I know what user ID I'm using, on what machine, in what directory, just by my prompt. The red is a good visual indicator of "be careful!".

rsciw · 07-08-2010, 11:16 AM

I never liked the default bash shell on fedora/centos/etc, being used to the debian default bash, which is:

Code:

PS1='${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}\[\033[01;32m\]\u@\h\[\033[00m\]:\[\033[01;34m\]\w\[\033[00m\]\$ '

which will appear as
home: achim@Warbird:~$
other dir: achim@Warbird:/usr/lib$

however now with my preferred shell, zsh, I have

Code:

PROMPT='${red}%n${NC}@${NC}%m${NC}:%~%%${NC}> '

whereas {red} and {NC} are colour settings,
showing as:
home: achim@Warbird:~%>
other dir: achim@Warbird:/usr/lib64%>

useful imo also, same as TB0ne does

Code:

case `whoami` in
    root)
         PROMPT='${RED}%n${NC}@${BLUE}%m${RED}:%~${GREEN}%%${NC}> '
    ;;
esac

showing as:

root@Warbird:/home/achim%>

richman1234 · 07-09-2010, 08:58 AM

Thanks a lot. Good information, and good links.
Rich