Installing Powerline on OSX

First we’ll need to install python, pip, and easy_install.

Homebrew and Python

I highly recommend checking out homebrew’s wiki page on python, which offers lots of information on the options offered when building python with homebrew.

The guide I followed used the command brew install python --universal --framework, but didn’t clarify what these extra options did. I searched around a bit and found this article, which explains that --universal builds a “universal (32/64 bit) version.” It also explains that the --framework option “tells it to build as a Framework, which has some downstream niceties.” I’m not sure if these options are still valid for brew install python, as they weren’t documented on the wiki page. So, I reinstalled without them.

Installing Python, Pip, and EasyInstall

I started following this guide to get Python installed, but it may be a bit out of date. I’m not very familiar with the Python ecosystem, but brew install python seems to install pip and easy_install as well now. All I needed to do was run the following commands:

brew install readline sqlite gdbm
brew install python --universal --framework

And I verified with this:

python --version && la `which python`
# Python 2.7.6 
# /usr/local/bin/python -> ../Cellar/python/2.7.6_1/bin/python

pip --version && la `which pip` 
# pip 1.5.5 
# /usr/local/bin/pip -> ../Cellar/python/2.7.6_1/bin/pip

easy_install --version && la `which easy_install` 
# setuptools 3.6 
# /usr/local/bin/easy_install -> ../Cellar/python/2.7.6_1/bin/easy_install 

Then, I configured my environment for virtualenv, by adding the following to my .bashrc. Some of these values will differ for you.

PATH=${PATH}:/usr/local/share/python
export SITE_PACKAGES=/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages

# setup virtualenv
export WORKON_HOME=$HOME/.virtualenvs
export VIRTUALENVWRAPPER_PYTHON=/usr/local/bin/python2.7
export VIRTUALENVWRAPPER_VIRTUALENV_ARGS='--no-site-packages'
export PIP_VIRTUALENV_BASE=$WORKON_HOME
export PIP_RESPECT_VIRTUALENV=true
if [[ -r /usr/local/bin/virtualenvwrapper.sh ]]; then
    source /usr/local/bin/virtualenvwrapper.sh
else
    echo "WARNING: Can't find virtualenvwrapper.sh"
fi

Then, I installed virtualenv and virtualenvwrapper and tested:

pip install virtualenv
pip install virtualenvwrapper

And I verified with this:

mkvirtualenv test
rmvirtualenv test

virtualenv hit a few snags when running its callback scripts, but my zsh setup shows the name of the active virtualenv profile and that seemed to be working. I wish I had more time to learn more about the python ecosystem, but just haven’t had a chance yet. If I’ve made a glaring omission, please drop me a line in the comments! Thank you!

Installing and Configuring Powerline

Installing powerline ended up being much simpler once I read and understood everything. It’s pretty easy: just run the pip install git+git://github.com/Lokaltog/powerline and boom. You’ve got powerline.

Now you need to add some powerline fonts. So, clone this repo and put it in a safe place, like a lockbox. I added it as a git submodule to my dotfiles. So whenever I’m setting up a new machine and cloning my dotfiles, I expand the submodules and boom. All the powerline-fonts are there, then I just start double-clicking away! Or you can also open the Font Book app, hit ⌘-O, navigate to the powerline-fonts directory, select it and hit enter.

Finally, you need to set up your zsh to load a new prompt. Powerline includes a base prompt for you. If you’ve added the above .bashrc snippet to your zsh profile, you should be able to add . $SITE_PACKAGES/powerline/bindings/zsh/powerline.zsh to the end.

Now open a fresh terminal and check out your prompt! It should look something like this.

Now, navigate to a git repository and you can see the branch on the right, like so:

Great! Powerline on OSX!

You should now have both Python and Powerline rarin’ to go. I’ve added a git submodule for my powerline config in dc.files and I’m linking my ~/.config/powerline here. In the powerline submodule, I’ve set up a custom powerline theme for zsh. My custom theme includes a battery level indicator that reads out in hearts. As in, hearts like Legend of Zelda. Check it out!

Check the Configuration section of the Powerline docs. Specifically, the References pages, which detail themes, colorschemes and how to tweak each option! Great stuff - make your prompts splash.

Also check out the plugins on the Usage page to see how to configure vim and tmux with a status bar. Take a look at this protip to make your tmux status bar responsive. For emacs, check out emacs-powerline and powerline.el, which may be available on MELPA.

Richard Guay does a great job of explaining Powerline customizations for vim/macvim, fish, and zsh. His blog includes tons of screenshots. Great resource!