Display active git branch in bash prompt

If you work with git as your version control system and don’t use a GUI app in your workflow, this one liner in your ~/.profile (or ~/.bashrc on Linux) will display the active branch you’re working on when you cd to a git repo path.

PS1="\u@\h:\w\$(git branch 2>/dev/null | grep -e '\* ' | sed 's/^..\(.*\)/{\1}/') \$ "

Login again and your shell will display the following when you move into a git repo:

greg@macbook:~ $ cd code/
greg@macbook:~/code $ cd weblog/
greg@macbook:~/code/weblog{wordpress} $

Update: In hindsight, better advice would be the install Oh My zsh where you get all this and more as standard. While you’re at it I recommend switching to iTerm2.

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