Question: I feel stupid asking, but I can't seem to find the answer to this anywhere. I'm trying to follow [these instructions](http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=614743) to edit my bash prompt, but there is no `.bashrc` in either my user directory (`~/.bashrc`), or in my home directory, or in the main file system directory. 

There is no `.bashrc` in `/etc/` (there is a `bash.bashrc`, however). 

Do I create a `.bashrc` file in my user or home directory? Is there a better, more recent set of instructions for modifying the bash prompt?

Answer: 
Don't forget it is a hidden file inside your home directory (you would not be the first to do a `ls -l` and thinking it is not there).

Do a:

```
ls -la ~/ | more

```

There should be a `.bashrc` on the first page.
If not just create it with: 

```
vi ~/.bashrc

```

and add in the lines you need to add into it.

Permissions of my `.bashrc` are:

```
-rw-r--r--  1 discworld discworld  3330 Mar 10 16:03 .bashrc

```

(`chmod 644 .bashrc` to make it `rw r r`).
Bashrc file is a hidden file inside the home directory. It is actually, give the path directions.

And those are wanted to edit `.bashrc` file, try this command `gedit ~/.bashrc` instead of this `~/.bashrc` .

This command `gedit ~/.bashrc` directly take you to the text editor, where you can edit it easily, as you know.