Configuring PowerShell (shell prompt)

In Windows PowerShell, customizing your shell prompt can enhance your development environment by providing valuable information at a glance. This guide walks you through configuring Windows PowerShell to display a customized prompt with the username, date, and current folder name.

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Checking for Existing Profile

STEP 1: Check for an Existing Profile

Run the following command to check if you have an existing profile set up in PowerShell:

test-path $profile

STEP 2: Create a New Profile (if needed)

If the result is false, create a new profile:

new-item -path $profile -itemtype file -force

STEP 3: Open the Profile in Notepad

Open the profile for editing:

notepad $profile

STEP 4: Add a Basic Prompt Function

Paste the following function to display the current folder name as the prompt:

function prompt {
  $p = Split-Path -leaf -path (Get-Location)
  "$p> "
}

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STEP 5: Save and Reload PowerShell

Save the file. If you encounter a script execution warning, run the following command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Reload PowerShell or Visual Studio Code.

Examples for Terminal Short Paths

Example 1: Prompt with `>` and Date

function prompt {
  $time = Get-Date -Format "HH:mm:ss"
  $location = "$($time | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor DarkYellow }) $(" | " | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor Gray }) $($((Get-Location).Drive.Name + ": " + $(Get-Item $pwd).Name) | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_  -ForegroundColor Cyan }) $(">" | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor Magenta })"
  return " "
}

Example 2: Prompt with `$` and Date

function prompt {
  $time = Get-Date -Format "HH:mm:ss"
  $location = "$($time | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor DarkYellow }) $(" | " | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor Gray }) $($((Get-Location).Drive.Name + ": " + $(Get-Item $pwd).Name) | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_  -ForegroundColor Cyan }) $("$" | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor Magenta })"
  return " "
}

Example 3: Prompt with `>` and `username@SYSTEM`

function prompt {
  $username = $env:USERNAME.ToLower()
  $deviceName = $env:COMPUTERNAME
  $location = "$($username | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor DarkYellow }) $("@" | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor Gray }) $($deviceName | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor DarkYellow }) $(" | " | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor Gray }) $($((Get-Location).Drive.Name + ": " + $(Get-Item $pwd).Name) | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_  -ForegroundColor Cyan }) $(">" | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor Magenta })"
  return " "
}

Example 4: Prompt with `>`, `username@SYSTEM`, and Date

function prompt {
  $username = $env:USERNAME.ToLower()
  $deviceName = $env:COMPUTERNAME
  $time = Get-Date -Format "HH:mm:ss"
  $location = "$($username | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor DarkYellow }) $("@" | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor Gray }) $($deviceName | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor DarkYellow }) $(" | " | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor Gray }) $($((Get-Location).Drive.Name + ": " + $(Get-Item $pwd).Name) | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -ForegroundColor Cyan }) $(">" | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor Magenta })"
  return " "
}

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Example 5: Prompt with `>`, `username`, and Full Date-Time

function prompt {
  $username = "herogautam"
  $time = Get-Date -Format "dd-MM-yyyy HH:mm:ss"
  $location = "$($username | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor Magenta }) $(" |" | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ $time -NoNewline -ForegroundColor DarkYellow }) $(" | " | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor Gray }) $($((Get-Location).Drive.Name + ": " + $(Get-Item $pwd).Name) | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -ForegroundColor Cyan }) $(">" | ForEach-Object { Write-Host $_ -NoNewline -ForegroundColor Magenta })"
  return " "
}

Example 6: Prompt with `>`, `username`, Date, and Current Directory

Example 6

Copy code

function Prompt1 {
  write-host "PS " -ForegroundColor Magenta -NoNewline
  write-host (get-date -Format "dd-MM-yyyy HH:mm:ss") -ForegroundColor Yellow -NoNewline
  write-host " | " -ForegroundColor DarkGray -NoNewline
  write-host "\\$env:COMPUTERNAME " -ForegroundColor Gray -NoNewline
  write-host " | " -ForegroundColor DarkGray -NoNewline
  if ((Get-Location).Drive -ne $null) {
    write-host (Get-Location) -ForegroundColor Cyan
  } else {
    write-host (Get-Location).Path -ForegroundColor Cyan
  }
  write-host ">" -ForegroundColor Magenta -NoNewline
  return " "
}

Example 6

Copy code

const [age, setAge] = useState(50);
const [name, setName] = useState("Taylor");

Hello

// Using 'typeof' to infer types
const person = { name: "Alice", age: 30 };
type PersonType = typeof person;  // { name: string; age: number }

// 'satisfies' to ensure a type matches but allows more specific types
type Animal = { name: string };
const dog = { name: "Buddy", breed: "Golden Retriever" } satisfies Animal;

// Generics with 'extends' and default values
function identity<T extends number | string = string>(arg: T): T {
  return arg;
}

let str = identity();  // Default type is string
let num = identity(42);  // T inferred as number

// 'extends' with interface and class
interface HasLength {
  length: number;
}

function logLength<T extends HasLength = string>(arg: T): void {
  console.log(arg.length);
}

logLength("Hello");    // OK: string has length (default is string)
logLength([1, 2, 3]);  // OK: array has length
// logLength(123);      // Error: number doesn't have length

// 'typeof' with functions
function add(x: number, y: number): number {
  return x + y;
}

 / sdf

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PowerShell Colors Reference

Color	HTML Code
Dark Cyan	`#00cdcd`
Dark Red	`#cd0000`
Magenta	`#ff00ff`
Blue	`#5c5cff`
Dark Gray	`#7f7f7f`
Dark Yellow	`#cdcd00`
Red	`#ff0000`
Cyan	`#00ffff`
Dark Green	`#00cd00`
Gray	`#e5e5e5`
White	`#ffffff`
Dark Blue	`#6495ed`
Dark Magenta	`#cd00cd`
Green	`#00ff00`
Yellow	`#ffff00`

Checking for Existing Profile

STEP 1: Check for an Existing Profile

STEP 2: Create a New Profile (if needed)

STEP 3: Open the Profile in Notepad

STEP 4: Add a Basic Prompt Function

STEP 5: Save and Reload PowerShell

Examples for Terminal Short Paths

Example 1: Prompt with > and Date

Example 2: Prompt with $ and Date

Example 3: Prompt with > and username@SYSTEM

Example 4: Prompt with >, username@SYSTEM, and Date

Example 5: Prompt with >, username, and Full Date-Time

Example 6: Prompt with >, username, Date, and Current Directory

PowerShell Colors Reference

Example 1: Prompt with `>` and Date

Example 2: Prompt with `$` and Date

Example 3: Prompt with `>` and `username@SYSTEM`

Example 4: Prompt with `>`, `username@SYSTEM`, and Date

Example 5: Prompt with `>`, `username`, and Full Date-Time

Example 6: Prompt with `>`, `username`, Date, and Current Directory