How to Change the Terminal Prompt (Bash) in VS Code on Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the tutorial, make sure you have:

• VS Code installed on your Mac
• Bash as your default shell in VS Code (you can check this in the Command Palette by typing “Terminal: Select Default Profile” and selecting “bash”)
• A basic understanding of terminal commands and syntax (don’t worry, we’ll guide you through the process)

Step 1: Open the Terminal in VS Code

Launch VS Code and open a new terminal window by pressing Cmd + Shift + ` or by navigating to View > Terminal in the menu bar.

Step 2: Access the Bash Configuration File

In the terminal, type the following command to open the Bash configuration file in VS Code:

open ~/.bashrc

This will open the file in your default editor (VS Code, in this case). If you don’t have a .bashrc file, create a new one by running touch ~/.bashrc in the terminal and then opening it.

Step 3: Add the Prompt Configuration

In the .bashrc file, add the following code at the end:

PS1='\[\e[0;32m\]\u@\h:\w\[\e[m\] '

This is a basic prompt configuration that displays the username, hostname, and current working directory in green. Feel free to customize it to your liking using the codes below:

Step 4: Save and Reload the Configuration

Save the changes to the .bashrc file and reload the configuration by running the following command in the terminal:

source ~/.bashrc

This will apply the new prompt configuration to your terminal.

Customizing the Prompt: Advanced Options

Now that you’ve got a basic prompt up and running, let’s explore some advanced customization options:

Displaying Git Information

Add the following code to your .bashrc file to display Git branch and status:

parse_git_branch() {
  git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD 2>/dev/null
}

parse_git_status() {
  git status --porcelain 2>/dev/null
}

PS1='\[\e[0;32m\]\u@\h:\w\[\e[0;33m\]$(parse_git_branch)\[\e[0;32m\] $(parse_git_status)\[\e[m\] '

This will display the current Git branch in yellow and add indicators for uncommitted changes or conflicts.

Adding a Custom Message or Emoji

Want to add a personal touch to your prompt? Insert your favorite message or emoji into the PS1 variable:

PS1='\[\e[0;32m\]\u@\h:\w 🚀 \[\e[m\] '

This will add a rocket ship emoji to your prompt. You can replace it with any text or emoji you like!

Troubleshooting and Tips

If you encounter any issues or want to take your prompt customization to the next level, here are some troubleshooting tips and advanced techniques:

• Check your Bash version**: Ensure you’re running Bash 4 or later, as some features might not work on earlier versions.
• Use single quotes**: When adding custom text or commands to your PS1 variable, use single quotes to avoid interpolation.
• Escape special characters**: If you’re using special characters like \ or `, make sure to escape them properly.
• Test and iterate**: Don’t be afraid to experiment and try different combinations of codes and commands to achieve your desired prompt.