Git Bash Completion and Detail

May 1, 2012

One of the things I can’t live without is git bash integration in my $PS1.  This gives me feedback on the branch and status of my current directory.  Here’s an example screenshot:

So how do you get this set up?  Here’s how I do it (in ~/.bash_profile):

GIT_COMPLETION_PATH=/etc/bash_completion.d/git
if [ -f $GIT_COMPLETION_PATH ]; then
  . $GIT_COMPLETION_PATH
  GIT_PS1_SHOWDIRTYSTATE=true # */+ for dirty
  GIT_PS1_SHOWSTASHSTATE=true # $ for stashes
  GIT_PS1_SHOWUNTRACKEDFILES=true # % for untracked
fi

And then you can just include the git completion function in your $PS1 where you want it. My $PS1 is super simple, and just has this and the current path (and some nice colors):

export PS1="\e[0;33m\w\e[0;91m\$(__git_ps1 ' (%s)')\e[0;96m \$\e[0m "

Note: the location of your git bash_completion directory may be different (especially if you installed git via homebrew).  I like to solve that with a symbolic link, instead of changing this configuration (I just find it cleaner that way – much nicer for upgrades too):

git -> /usr/local/Cellar/git/1.7.9.6/etc/bash_completion.d/git-completion.bash

If you like this – read more of my dotfiles

  • ConcernedGitUser

    Lines longer than the window (that should wrap to a new line) begin over writing the current line:
    ~/Development/haste-server (master) $ git add me
    becomes the following when the window is too small:
    dd meelopment/haste-server (master) $ git a
    Thoughts on a fix??? Thanks.

    • http://seejohncode.com/ John Crepezzi

      I ended up switching to ZSH (and had noticed this issue from time to time beforehand). Things work well for me now – check out .zshrc & .zsh in my dotfiles if interested