Bash Git Prompt on Ubuntu 24.04 Server

Install Bash Git Prompt on Ubuntu 24.04 server.

Note

Safe for production use. This tool only modifies your shell prompt and does not change system services.

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Why this installer exists

Most Bash Git prompts out there are bloated. You have to install oh-my-zsh, oh-my-bash, or some other framework that drags in far more than you need.

This project is the opposite: a fast, lightweight Git status prompt based purely on Bash and Git’s own built-in commands.
No frameworks, no plugins, no bloat.

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What this installer does

✔ Shows current Git branch and live repo status
✔ Supports five clean themes switchable in real time
✔ Displays staged, changed, untracked, stashed, and remote state
✔ Indicates clean/dirty status immediately
✔ Lets you customise PS1 inside/outside Git repos centrally
✔ Works seamlessly over SSH
✔ Includes an optional Nerd Font installer

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What this installer does NOT do

It won’t stop you from running the script without reading the documentation like there’s no tomorrow.
Skip the README, and whatever happens next is your headache, not a bug report.

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Prerequisites

Requires DejaVuSansMono Nerd Font Mono for proper symbol display like shown below.

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Prompt Structure

The default prompt layout is:

<branch git status><working directory>

Example output:

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Installation

Clone the repository:

git clone https://git.x-files.dk/bash/bash-git-prompt.git ~/.bash-git-prompt

Install fonts:

cd ~/.bash-git-prompt
./install-fonts.sh

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Important note about fonts (SSH users take notice)

The Git prompt uses Nerd Font symbols, but:

You only need Nerd Fonts installed on your local machine. Your terminal emulator on your laptop/workstation renders the symbols — not the server.

If you SSH into the server, the prompt will display correctly as long as your local terminal already has the Nerd Font installed.

If you are installing this on a remote server, you can safely skip the font installer.

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Make it happen

Add the following to your .bashrc file:

# Git Prompt Start
if [ -f "$HOME/.bash-git-prompt/bash-git-prompt" ]; then
    export GIT_PROMPT_THEME=1
    source "$HOME/.bash-git-prompt/bash-git-prompt"
fi
# Git Prompt Stop

Reload your environment:

source ~/.bashrc

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Switching Themes

Change themes dynamically with:

gpchange <theme number>

Example:

gpchange 3

This updates the theme instantly for your current session.

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Changing PS1

The script has been structured so modifying your PS1 is now simple and centralized.

To change the PS1 inside a Git repository, modify:

#
# PS1 custom for all themes inside a git repository
#
local PS1_CUSTOM='\[\e[0;32m\]\u@\h\[\e[0m\]'

To change the PS1 outside a Git repository, modify:

#
# PS1 custom for all themes outside a git repository
#
PS1='\[\e[0;32m\]\u@\h\[\e[0m\]:\[\e[38;5;178m\]\w\[\e[0m\] '"${PROMPT_CHAR} "

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Available Themes

Preview of all five themes (clean and dirty shown together for comparison):

Branch → Staged → Changed → Untracked → Stashed → Ahead → Behind → No-Remote → Conflict → Dirty → Clean

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Terminal Font Setup

Set your terminal to use:

DejaVuSansMono Nerd Font Mono

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Troubleshooting

Symbols not showing correctly:
Make sure your terminal uses DejaVuSansMono Nerd Font Mono.
Restart your terminal after installing fonts.
Log out and back in after installing fonts.

Prompt not loading:
Verify these lines exist and are correct in ~/.bashrc:

# Git Prompt Start
if [ -f "$HOME/.bash-git-prompt/bash-git-prompt" ]; then
    export GIT_PROMPT_THEME=1
    source "$HOME/.bash-git-prompt/bash-git-prompt"
fi
# Git Prompt Stop

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FAQ

Q: Does this replace my default prompt entirely?
A: No — the Git-aware segment only appears when your current directory is inside a Git repository.

Q: Can I create my own theme?
A: Absolutely. Each theme is defined in the script under set_git_prompt_theme_icons().
You can modify or extend it, then set your new theme using export GIT_PROMPT_THEME=<number>.

Q: Does it slow down Git-heavy directories?
A: Negligibly. The script uses optimized Git calls and caches status checks for performance.

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More Information

More guides and documentation can be found on wiki.x-files.dk

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License

Licensed under the MIT License.

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