[Linux] Customize shell prompt

To change the shell prompt, change the variable $PS1 the .bashrc (depends on the shell you use)

\u    : user name
\h    : hostname
\w    : the current absolute path (use /W if you only want to relative path)
\n    : new line

To add color to the prompt

\e[   : start to add color
x;ym  : set the color to x;y
\e[m  : end to add color

another format to add color

For example, green string 'HelloWorld'

.bashrc

# the color code for green is 01;32m PS1='\e[01;32mHelloWorld\e[m'

Another example:
Green user name (spencer)
purple directory (~) in a pair of bracket ([XXXX])
ending up with a dollar sign ($) and leave a space.

.bashrc

PS1='\e[01;32m\u:\e[m\e[11;35m[\w]$\e[m ' # 01;32m = green, 11;35m = purple # use one pair of declaration for one color

Update Jan. 24, 2014:
It seems that using the purple color (11;35m) may result in a bug, choose another color, for example blue (01:34).