More useful bash prompt

Working on a project with a rather deep directory hierarchy, I finally got tired of my prompt overflowing the line and wrapping around. So, here’s a handy <code>bash</code> function to put in your <code>$PS1</code>. It should be noted that I did not write it, I only wrapped it up in a function and added some aesthetic options, but all the hard work and <code>bash</code> hackery was done by BearPerson from <code>#bash</code>.

# Produces the same effect as \w in $PS1, but makes sure that the
# result length doesn't exceed $1 chars. If any dirs are omitted, they
# are replaced with [...]. Optional $2 turns on ANSI VT100 escape
# sequences to dim the [...] part. Optional $3 specifies the colour
# code to dim to (otherwise 02, "dim")
bound_pwd ()
{
    limit=${1:-40}
    ansi=$2
    colour=${3:-2}

    regex="~$|~?/.{1,$limit}$|/[^/]*$"
    pre=$([ $ansi ] && echo -n "\[\033[${colour}m\]")
    suf=$([ $ansi ] && echo -n "\[\033[0m\]")

    CANDIDATE="${PWD/$HOME/~}"
    [[ $CANDIDATE =~ $regex ]]
    [[ $BASH_REMATCH != $CANDIDATE ]] && CANDIDATE="$pre[...]$suf$BASH_REMATCH"

    echo $CANDIDATE
}

To use it, either put it in your <code>.bashrc</code>, or in a file that is sourced by <code>.bashrc</code>, then replace <code>\w</code> in your <code>$PS1</code> with <code>$(bound_pwd)</code>. Personally I use <code>$(bound_pwd 25 1)</code> to get at most 25 chars, with VT100 colour codes.

Obligatory screenshot:

<s>Update: If you use VT100 colours, remember to surround the <code>bound_pwd</code> invocation with <code>\[ \]</code>, otherwise non-printing characters will confuse <code>bash</code> and make it wrap lines incorrectly</s>

Update 2: The above update was wrong. It’s actually more complex than that, and due to the fact that <code>bash</code> doesn’t exactly have coherent escaping semantics, I had to rework the function. If you use VT100 colours and have downloaded an earlier version of bound_pwd, you have to download it again, it has changed. Additionally, to have it really work, you have to add this function:

set_ps1 ()
{
    PS1='${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}\u@\h:'"$(bound_pwd 25 1)"'$ '
}

And in <code>.bashrc</code>, add this:

# Yes, it's silly that ; alone is not valid syntax
PROMPT_COMMAND="${PROMPT_COMMAND:-true};set_ps1"

Make sure it’s the last line to set <code>PROMPT_COMMAND</code>. Especially if you’re on Debian/Ubuntu, as their default <code>.bashrc</code> sets it conditionally.

#