PromptConfig lets you describe your prompt expressively in JSON and then it gets compiled to Bash. A very simple prompt might look like this:

{
  "prompt": ["character", "space"],
  "components": [
    {
      "key": "character",
      "value": "❯",
      "color": "magenta"
    }
  ]
}

And it will generate Bash that looks like this:

function _promptconfig_prompt() {
  local prompt=''
  prompt+='\[\e[38;5;5m\]'
  prompt+='❯'
  prompt+='\[\e[0m\]'
  prompt+=' '
  PS1=$prompt
}

PROMPT_COMMAND="_promptconfig_prompt; $PROMPT_COMMAND"

Why?

Bash is hard. It’s an arcane language and environment with a steep learning curve. Most programmers wind up using it on a very superficial level, figuring out just enough to get done what they need to do.

Unfortunately, customizing your prompt correctly requires a disproportionately high understanding of how Bash and the terminal work relative to what you’re trying to actually do. The internet is filled with recommendations that will break your prompt in subtle ways that aren’t immediately obvious and later you might not understand are caused by your custom prompt. I’m speaking from personal experience. 😭

It shouldn’t be that complicated and hopefully now it isn’t.

Take a look and let me know what you think!