Zsh prompt with current working directory

See the EXPANSION OF PROMPT SEQUENCES and SIMPLE PROMPT ESCAPES sections of the zsh manual page at man zshmisc.

This prompt string, PS1='%m %1d$ ', displays the machine name (%m) and the trailing component of the current path (%1d).

The best version of the combinations that works for me is this:

PS1='%n@%m %~$ '

%n is the user logged in

%m is the machine name

%~ gives the path relative to HOME, if path begins with HOME.

This is how it is for me:

The man page has more info. I tried to put in simpler terms here.! :D

To show only the directory followed by a % sign, e.g.:

/usr/local%

Put the following in ~/.zshrc (create the file if it doesn't exist):

PROMPT='%~%# '

%~ displays the current directory, but your HOME directory will be replaced by a ~:

/usr/local% cd
~% pwd
/Users/7stud
% cd erlang_programs 
~/erlang_programs% pwd
/Users/7stud/erlang_programs
~/erlang_programs% cd /opt/local
/opt/local% 

That keeps the prompt short and sweet.

The docs say that %# will display a % sign, but if you are using privileges, e.g. with the su command, then it will display a # sign. When I use sudo, it still displays a % sign.

In my opinion

PS1='%~: '

anywhere in ~/.zshrc is the cleanest / simplest.

PS1='%~ $: '

is also pretty good.