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> "minimal" Here is what a minimal shell prompt looks like: $ Here is another one which only uses the shells own facilities: current-directory@hostn

> "minimal" Here is what a minimal shell prompt looks like: $ Here is another one which only uses the shells own facilities: current-directory@hostname $ Running a complex piece of software every time the shell needs to display it's prompt, is not "minimal", regardless of how fast and well written said piece of software is.

daliusd 3y ago
I still think minimal is appropriate in this case as it shows only what’s relevant in the context.
- INTPenis 3y ago
  You're missing the point. It runs every time you show the prompt. Anything that does that is not minimal and it increases the risk of failure. Some things that you use regularly should be kept as minimal and as stable as possible. To me that includes the shell prompt, editor, browser for example.
  - daliusd 3y ago
    I am cli/vim guy - that’s my daily tools. Starship is very stable and it is useful for me. The only problem I have experienced is with custom extension I wrote myself (problem was slowness not stability).
    - usrbinbash 3y ago
      That's all well and good, but has nothing to do with my argument. If you need to invoke a program for every prompt, when the alternative is to just let the shell do it's thing, it's no longer "minimal", period.
      - daliusd 3y ago
        Well, we are arguing about semantics. You say that minimal means that it must be functionally minimal. I say that minimal UX is valid meaning as well.
        usrbinbash 3y ago
        > Well, we are arguing about semantics. No, we are not. "minimal" has a defined meaning, and "minimal" and "minimalism" as a design philosophy are not the same.
        sevg 3y ago
        To use your own argument against you, no, a minimal prompt does not look like this: $ It looks like this:
        usrbinbash 3y ago
        Please explain how this "uses my own argument against me", when my argument is that "minimal" prompt doesn't involve calling an external program to build the prompt? Both "$ " and "" can be built by the shell itself.
        sevg 3y ago
        Heh oh my bad, I didn't realise you have the privilege of gatekeeping what "minimal" means ;) I see one dictionary definition is "the least possible". Seems like the least possible prompt is no prompt at all, but it's really just a matter of opinion ;)

daliusd 3y ago

I still think minimal is appropriate in this case as it shows only what’s relevant in the context.

INTPenis 3y ago
You're missing the point. It runs every time you show the prompt. Anything that does that is not minimal and it increases the risk of failure. Some things that you use regularly should be kept as minimal and as stable as possible. To me that includes the shell prompt, editor, browser for example.
- daliusd 3y ago
  I am cli/vim guy - that’s my daily tools. Starship is very stable and it is useful for me. The only problem I have experienced is with custom extension I wrote myself (problem was slowness not stability).
  - usrbinbash 3y ago
    That's all well and good, but has nothing to do with my argument. If you need to invoke a program for every prompt, when the alternative is to just let the shell do it's thing, it's no longer "minimal", period.
    - daliusd 3y ago
      Well, we are arguing about semantics. You say that minimal means that it must be functionally minimal. I say that minimal UX is valid meaning as well.
      - usrbinbash 3y ago
        > Well, we are arguing about semantics. No, we are not. "minimal" has a defined meaning, and "minimal" and "minimalism" as a design philosophy are not the same.
        sevg 3y ago
        To use your own argument against you, no, a minimal prompt does not look like this: $ It looks like this:
        usrbinbash 3y ago
        Please explain how this "uses my own argument against me", when my argument is that "minimal" prompt doesn't involve calling an external program to build the prompt? Both "$ " and "" can be built by the shell itself.
        sevg 3y ago
        Heh oh my bad, I didn't realise you have the privilege of gatekeeping what "minimal" means ;) I see one dictionary definition is "the least possible". Seems like the least possible prompt is no prompt at all, but it's really just a matter of opinion ;)