Knowing what GNU screen you're on with .screenrc
I'm introducing people to GNU screen and how to make it more usable with a .screenrc file. In this blog post, I'll show you how to add the .screenrc file to your ~/ (home) directory, and explain the settings I include in my .screenrc file, such as changing the default escape sequence, turning off the copyright page, changing the number of scrollback lines, and making navigating and resizing regions easier.
Unlock the Power of GNU Screen with a Custom .screenrc File
By Michael Levin
Saturday, July 30, 2022
Now that I’m introducing the nice people to GNU screen, make it a little more usable with a .screenrc. This file should be put into your ~/ (home) directory named .screenrc. This is just like .vimrc in that it’s an invisible text file serving as a configuration file in your *nix home folder.
# ~/.screenrc
#
# Guy Who Tweaks This File and Adds Foul Language Comments:
# -- Miles Z. Sterrett <miles.sterrett@gmail.com>
#
# Original Author: Aaron Schaefer <aaron@elasticdog.com>
# Created: Sat 05 Aug 2006 06:38:47 PM EDT
#
# Settings used to initialize screen sessions
term screen-256color
# Change default escape sequence from C-a to a backslash
# escape `` # default ^Aa
# Do not display the copyright page
startup_message off # default: on
# Change the number of scrollback lines
defscrollback 10000 # default: 100
# Ensure the default shell is the same as the $SHELL environment variable
shell -$SHELL
# Make navigating between regions easier
bind s split
bind j focus down
bind k focus up
# Make resizing regions easier
bind = resize =
bind + resize +1
bind - resize -1
# Configure status bar at the bottom of the terminal
hardstatus alwayslastline
hardstatus string "%{= kb}[ %=%{w}%?%-Lw%?%{C}(%{W}%n*%f %t%?(%u)%?%{C})%{w}%?%+Lw%?%?%= %{b}][%{C} %Y.%m.%d %{W}%0c %{b}]"
# Turn off the visual bell
vbell off
# End of file