2.3. Why Bother?
Beyond looking cool, it's often useful to keep track of system information.
One idea that I know appeals to some people is that it makes it possible to
put prompts on different machines in different colours. If you have
several Xterms open on several different machines, or if you tend to forget
what machine you're working on and delete the wrong files (or shut down the
server instead of the workstation), you'll find this a great way to
remember what machine you're on.
For myself, I like the utility of having information about my machine
and work environment available all the time. And I like the challenge of
trying to figure out how to put the maximum amount of information into the
smallest possible space while maintaining readability.
Perhaps the most practical aspect of colourizing your prompt is the
ability to quickly spot the prompt when you use scrollback.