This assumes IPython 0.12
I used IPython to create a custom shell for a project at work. I wanted the prompt to show some status information about the state of the system it was controlling.
ED: I've changed these examples to use the config system. You can do the same things with an embedded instance of IPython .
First, we change the default ipython_config.py file, adding these lines:
# _foobar will be the part of the prompt we control c.PromptManager.in_template = "[{_foobar}]\n[\#]>>> " c.PromptManager.in2_template = ".\D.>>> " c.PromptManager.out_template = "[\#]<<< "
Next, we prepare our variable, ensuring it has a `__str__()` method for the prompt formatter to call:
This code goes in a startup file. Create a file such as `foobar_prompt.py` in `profile_default/startup/`
```python
del FoobarPrompt
```
Expected output: ``` $ ipython
[foo] [1]>>> _foobar.var = "blah"
[UNKNOWN] [2]>>> _foobar.var = "BAR"
[BAR] [3]>>> _foobar [3]<<< <.FoobarPrompt at 0x25c2f90>
[BAR] [4]>>> ```
You can also automatically set the state from the `pre_run_code_hook` (gets run every time code is executed) or the `pre_prompt_hook` (gets run just before the prompt is printed).
```python
get_ipython().set_hook("pre_prompt_hook", update_prompt)
```
Finally, there are a number of built in prompt variables:
Short | Long | Notes |
---|---|---|
%n, \# | {color.number}{count}{color.prompt} | history counter with bolding |
\N | {count} | history counter without bolding |
\D | {dots} | series of dots the same width as the history counter |
\T | {time} | current time |
\w | {cwd} | current working directory |
\W | {cwd_last} | basename of CWD |
\Xn | {cwd_x[n]} | Show the last n terms of the CWD. n=0 means show all. |
\Yn | {cwd_y[n]} | Like \Xn, but show '~' for $HOME |
\h | N/A | hostname, up to the first '.' |
\H | N/A | full hostname |
\u | N/A | username (from the $USER environment variable) |
\v | N/A | IPython version |
\$ | N/A | root symbol ("$" for normal user or "#" for root) |
\\ | N/A | escaped '\' |
\n | N/A | newline |
\r | N/A | carriage return |
On terminals supporting ANSI color switching, you can also use the following color variables: ```
- attributes of IPython.utils.coloransi.InputTermColors
c.PromptManager.in_template = "{color.LightGreen} \T {color.Yellow} \Y2 "
will produce a prompt with green time and yellow CWD.