Pure

A minimal, fast zsh prompt that shows git status and command timing.

Stars: 14.5k
Forks: 1k
Licence: MIT
Language: Shell
Last update: 30 days ago
Type: Dev tool

What it is

Pure is a prompt for the zsh shell, the command line used on many Macs and Linux systems. It shows your current folder, your git branch with a marker when there are uncommitted changes, and arrows when local commits are not yet pushed or pulled. It is designed to look clean and stay out of your way.

See the git branch and whether the working tree is dirty while browsing a repo
Notice when your branch is ahead of or behind its remote through the up and down arrows
Spot a failed previous command from the red prompt character
Show the Python virtualenv or Conda environment name in the prompt
Display the current Node.js major version in projects that have a package.json, after opting in

Great for

Developers who use zsh and want a simple, readable prompt
People who work with git branches and want to see status at a glance
Users who want a prompt they can extend with their own segments
Anyone who prefers a minimal look over a heavily decorated prompt

Not ideal for

People who do not use zsh (the README describes a zsh-only prompt), since it will not work in bash or fish
Users who want many built-in segments by default, because several extras such as Node.js version display are off unless enabled
Users on very old zsh versions, since the README recommends zsh 5.2+ and says older versions are not recommended

Step-by-step guide: how to use PureInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Pure alternatives Powerlevel10k vs Pure Pure vs Spaceship Prompt Pure vs Skeleton Oh My Zsh vs Pure

How to get it

1
Install with a package manager
You'll need: Git 2.15.2+ · ZSH 5.2+ · npm (for the npm install route)
Install with npm
npm install --global pure-prompt
Install with Homebrew
brew install pure
2
Run it
- Install Pure with npm or Homebrew, or clone the repository manually
- Add the fpath line to your .zshrc if the prompt is not listed by prompt -l
- In .zshrc, run: autoload -U promptinit; promptinit
- Run: prompt pure, then open a new shell to see it
3
Get the most out of it
- Enable detailed dirty indicators with zstyle :prompt:pure:git:dirty detailed yes to distinguish unstaged, staged and untracked changes
- Turn on stash display with zstyle :prompt:pure:git:stash show yes
- Enable Node.js version display with zstyle :prompt:pure:environment:node_version show yes in Node projects
- Use prompt_pure_precustom to add custom prefix or suffix text, caching slow commands in a precmd hook
- Adjust the threshold for showing command run time with the PURE_CMD_MAX_EXEC_TIME variable

Downloads

Source code (.zip)main branch · straight from GitHub Release v1.28.4Release notes and source

Strengths

Installs and enables with a few lines and has a documented npm and Homebrew route
Git status checks run asynchronously and many options are configurable via environment variables and zstyle
The README offers a documented hook (prompt_pure_precustom) for adding custom content

Trade-offs

Configuration is done through zstyle and environment variables, which takes some reading of the README to learn
Some useful features such as detailed dirty indicators and stash display are opt-in rather than on by default
The README does not describe compatibility beyond the listed minimum versions of Git and zsh

How it compares

Project	Stars	Type	Level	Updated	Best for
pure (this)	14.5k	Dev tool	beginner	30 days ago	Developers who use zsh and want a simple, readable prompt
powerlevel10k	55.3k	Dev tool	beginner	2 months ago	Zsh users who want a informative prompt that does not slow down typing
ohmyzsh	190k	Dev tool	beginner	4 days ago	People who already use zsh and want a ready-made configuration without writing it from scratch
spaceship-prompt	20.6k	Dev tool	beginner	10 days ago	Zsh users who want useful information in their prompt without much setup
prezto	14.6k	Framework	beginner	7 months ago	People who use Zsh and want a ready-made starting configuration
oh-my-posh	23.7k	Dev tool	intermediate	4 days ago	Developers who want their terminal prompt to show extra context

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.