Best Shell Prompts
Compare starship, Spaceship Prompt, Pure: workflows, strengths and tradeoffs.
Updated
short verdict
Choose starship if you use several shells and want one prompt configuration. Choose Spaceship Prompt if you use Zsh and want configurable context sections. Choose Pure if you want a small Zsh prompt centered on repository state.
Start with the task and destination, then choose the interface and configuration that fit. The picks below cover different workflows.
Choose starship if you use several shells and want one prompt configuration.
best for
- You use several shells and want one prompt configuration
strengths
- Shows Git and language context
- Uses a TOML configuration for prompt modules
weaknesses
- Symbol-heavy configurations need a compatible terminal font.
Choose Spaceship Prompt if you use Zsh and want configurable context sections.
best for
- You use Zsh and want configurable context sections
strengths
- Shows runtime and repository status
- Supports custom prompt sections
weaknesses
- Its shell integration is specific to Zsh.
Choose Pure if you want a small Zsh prompt centered on repository state.
best for
- You want a small Zsh prompt centered on repository state
strengths
- Checks unpushed and unpulled status asynchronously
- Shows exit status and command duration
weaknesses
- Requires Zsh; it is not a prompt configuration shared across shell families.
Choose by workflow
- starship: you use several shells and want one prompt configuration.
- Spaceship Prompt: you use Zsh and want configurable context sections.
- Pure: you want a small Zsh prompt centered on repository state.
Before adopting a tool
- starship: Symbol-heavy configurations need a compatible terminal font.
- Spaceship Prompt: Its shell integration is specific to Zsh.
- Pure: Requires Zsh; it is not a prompt configuration shared across shell families.
FAQ
- Are these tools interchangeable?
- They overlap in the overall job, but their inputs and workflows differ. Choose starship if you use several shells and want one prompt configuration. Choose Spaceship Prompt if you use Zsh and want configurable context sections. Choose Pure if you want a small Zsh prompt centered on repository state.
- What should I check before using one?
- Try the workflow on a small fixture and confirm the platform, configuration and permissions you need. Symbol-heavy configurations need a compatible terminal font.