Different bash prompt for different vi editing mode?

Question

When using vi mode (set -o vi) with Bash, it would be nice to have a prompt that depends on the mode you are currently in (insert or command). How does one find out this edi

Answer 1

Different Prompt and Cursor Style via .inputrc

First you should make sure that you're running a bash version higher than 4.3:

$ bash --version
GNU bash, version 4.4

Then put the following lines in your ~/.inputrc:

#################### VIM ####################
# FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK:
# https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Readline

# TURN ON VIM (E.G. FOR READLINE)
set editing-mode vi

# SHOW THE VIM MODE IN THE PROMPT (COMMAND OR INSERT)
set show-mode-in-prompt on

# SET THE MODE STRING AND CURSOR TO INDICATE THE VIM MODE
#   FOR THE NUMBER AFTER `\e[`:
#     0: blinking block
#     1: blinking block (default)
#     2: steady block
#     3: blinking underline
#     4: steady underline
#     5: blinking bar (xterm)
#     6: steady bar (xterm)
set vi-ins-mode-string (ins)\1\e[5 q\2
set vi-cmd-mode-string (cmd)\1\e[1 q\2

In command mode, the cursor is displayed as block.
In insert mode, the cursor is displayed as vertical bar.

The prompt itself will then look like this depending on the mode:

(cmd)$ ... 
(ins)$ ...