CODEWITHSUNDEEP
bashgit
Govind Rai
Govind Rai

Reputation: 15830

Cannot suppress git branch error when not in a git repository

I would like my command prompt to display the current branch in my Prompt String 1 (PS1). The command works in git repositories, but when not in a git repo, I get the rightful error message: fatal: Not a git repository (or any of the parent directories): .git

I would like to suppress that error message otherwise every time I switch directories and I am not in a git repo, that error is printed to the terminal.

I read up on suppressing terminal output by sending error output to the null device /dev/null, but the error message still prints in my terminal.

Here is the command I am using to extract the current branch:

git branch 2>/dev/null | grep '*' | cut -d ' ' -f2.

Upvotes: 3

Views: 811

Answers (1)

chuckx
chuckx

Reputation: 6937

Make sure to escape the $ in the $() construct, so that it will be evaluated anew when each prompt is generated instead of only when the PS1 variable is set.

Here's what it looks like for me in practice:

# Set PS1
$ PS1="\$(git branch 2>/dev/null | grep '*' | cut -d ' ' -f 2) $ "

# Currently in directory that is not a Git repository, change into one.
 $ cd dotfiles/

# Git branch is then displayed in the prompt, leave the directory.
master $ cd ..

# No git branch displayed, change back into it for good measure.
 $ cd dotfiles/

# Branch is displayed again.
master $

Upvotes: 4

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