feat(config): add support for custom input prompt in user config

- Allow users to specify a custom input prompt string via the `input_prompt`
    setting in the configuration file.
  - Document the new `input_prompt` option in `.config/config.toml` with a
    commented example.
  - Add a test to ensure that the input prompt is correctly loaded from the user
    configuration file.

.config/config.toml

@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ ui_scale = 100
 
 # Where to place the input bar in the UI (top or bottom)
 input_bar_position = "top"
+# The input prompt string (defaults to ">" if not specified)
+# input_prompt = ">"
 # What orientation should tv be (landscape or portrait)
 orientation = "landscape"
 # The theme to use for the UI

television/channels/prototypes.rs

@@ -379,6 +379,8 @@ pub struct UiSpec {
     pub input_bar_position: Option<InputPosition>,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub input_header: Option<Template>,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub input_prompt: Option<String>,
     // Feature-specific configurations
     #[serde(default)]
     pub preview_panel: Option<ui::PreviewPanelConfig>,
@@ -400,6 +402,7 @@ impl From<&crate::config::UiConfig> for UiSpec {
             orientation: Some(config.orientation),
             input_bar_position: Some(config.input_bar_position),
             input_header: config.input_header.clone(),
+            input_prompt: config.input_prompt.clone(),
             preview_panel: Some(config.preview_panel.clone()),
             status_bar: Some(config.status_bar.clone()),
             help_panel: Some(config.help_panel.clone()),

television/cli/args.rs

@@ -141,6 +141,16 @@ pub struct Cli {
     #[arg(long = "input-header", value_name = "STRING", verbatim_doc_comment)]
     pub input_header: Option<String>,
 
+    /// Input prompt string
+    ///
+    /// When a channel is specified: This overrides the prompt defined in the channel prototype.
+    /// When no channel is specified: Sets the input prompt for the ad-hoc channel.
+    ///
+    /// The given value is used as the prompt string shown before the input field.
+    /// Defaults to "> " when omitted.
+    #[arg(long = "input-prompt", value_name = "STRING", verbatim_doc_comment)]
+    pub input_prompt: Option<String>,
+
     /// Preview header template
     ///
     /// When a channel is specified: This overrides the header defined in the channel prototype.

television/cli/mod.rs

@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ pub struct PostProcessedCli {
     // Input configuration
     pub input: Option<String>,
     pub input_header: Option<String>,
+    pub input_prompt: Option<String>,
 
     // UI and layout configuration
     pub layout: Option<Orientation>,
@@ -150,6 +151,7 @@ impl Default for PostProcessedCli {
             // Input configuration
             input: None,
             input_header: None,
+            input_prompt: None,
 
             // UI and layout configuration
             layout: None,
@@ -340,6 +342,7 @@ pub fn post_process(cli: Cli, readable_stdin: bool) -> PostProcessedCli {
         // Input configuration
         input: cli.input,
         input_header: cli.input_header,
+        input_prompt: cli.input_prompt,
 
         // UI and layout configuration
         layout,

television/config/mod.rs

@@ -266,6 +266,11 @@ impl Config {
             self.ui.input_header = Some(value.clone());
         }
 
+        // Apply input_prompt
+        if let Some(value) = &ui_spec.input_prompt {
+            self.ui.input_prompt = Some(value.clone());
+        }
+
         // Handle preview_panel with field merging
         if let Some(preview_panel) = &ui_spec.preview_panel {
             self.ui.preview_panel.size = preview_panel.size;
@@ -481,6 +486,30 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    const USER_CONFIG_INPUT_PROMPT: &str = r#"
+        [ui]
+        input_prompt = "❯ "
+    "#;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_config_input_prompt_from_user_cfg() {
+        // write user config to a file
+        let dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let config_dir = dir.path();
+        let config_file = config_dir.join(CONFIG_FILE_NAME);
+        let mut file = File::create(&config_file).unwrap();
+        file.write_all(USER_CONFIG_INPUT_PROMPT.as_bytes()).unwrap();
+
+        let config_env = ConfigEnv {
+            _data_dir: get_data_dir(),
+            config_dir: config_dir.to_path_buf(),
+        };
+        let config = Config::new(&config_env, None).unwrap();
+
+        // Verify that input_prompt was loaded from user config
+        assert_eq!(config.ui.input_prompt, Some("❯ ".to_string()));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_setting_user_shell_integration_triggers_overrides_default() {
         let user_config = r#"

television/config/ui.rs

@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ pub struct UiConfig {
     pub orientation: Orientation,
     pub theme: String,
     pub input_header: Option<Template>,
+    pub input_prompt: Option<String>,
     pub features: Features,
 
     // Feature-specific configurations
@@ -130,6 +131,7 @@ impl Default for UiConfig {
             orientation: Orientation::Landscape,
             theme: String::from(DEFAULT_THEME),
             input_header: None,
+            input_prompt: None,
             features: Features::default(),
             status_bar: StatusBarConfig::default(),
             preview_panel: PreviewPanelConfig::default(),

television/draw.rs

@@ -197,6 +197,11 @@ pub fn draw(ctx: Box<Ctx>, f: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect) -> Result<Layout> {
     )?;
 
     // input box
+    let input_prompt = ctx.config.ui.input_prompt
+        .as_ref()
+        .map(|p| format!("{} ", p))
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| "> ".to_string());
+
     draw_input_box(
         f,
         layout.input,
@@ -209,6 +214,7 @@ pub fn draw(ctx: Box<Ctx>, f: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect) -> Result<Layout> {
         &ctx.tv_state.spinner,
         &ctx.colorscheme,
         &ctx.config.ui.input_header,
+        &input_prompt,
         &ctx.config.ui.input_bar_position,
     )?;
 

television/main.rs

@@ -202,6 +202,9 @@ fn apply_cli_overrides(args: &PostProcessedCli, config: &mut Config) {
             config.ui.input_header = Some(t);
         }
     }
+    if let Some(input_prompt) = &args.input_prompt {
+        config.ui.input_prompt = Some(input_prompt.clone());
+    }
     if let Some(preview_header) = &args.preview_header {
         if let Ok(t) = Template::parse(preview_header) {
             config.ui.preview_panel.header = Some(t);
@@ -372,6 +375,7 @@ fn apply_ui_overrides(
         orientation: None,
         input_bar_position: None,
         input_header: None,
+        input_prompt: None,
         preview_panel: None,
         status_bar: None,
         help_panel: None,
@@ -386,6 +390,12 @@ fn apply_ui_overrides(
         }
     }
 
+    // Apply input prompt override
+    if let Some(input_prompt_str) = &args.input_prompt {
+        ui_spec.input_prompt = Some(input_prompt_str.clone());
+        ui_changes_needed = true;
+    }
+
     // Apply layout/orientation override
     if let Some(layout) = args.layout {
         ui_spec.orientation = Some(layout);
@@ -737,6 +747,7 @@ mod tests {
             orientation: Some(Orientation::Portrait),
             input_bar_position: None,
             input_header: Some(Template::parse("Original Header").unwrap()),
+            input_prompt: None,
             preview_panel: Some(television::config::ui::PreviewPanelConfig {
                 size: 50,
                 header: Some(

television/screen/input.rs

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ pub fn draw_input_box(
     spinner: &Spinner,
     colorscheme: &Colorscheme,
     input_header: &Option<Template>,
+    input_prompt: &str,
     input_bar_position: &InputPosition,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     let header = input_header
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ pub fn draw_input_box(
         .direction(Direction::Horizontal)
         .constraints([
             // prompt symbol
-            Constraint::Length(2),
+            Constraint::Length(u16::try_from(input_prompt.len()).unwrap_or(2)),
             // input field
             Constraint::Fill(1),
             // result count
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ pub fn draw_input_box(
 
     let arrow_block = Block::default();
     let arrow = Paragraph::new(Span::styled(
-        "> ",
+        input_prompt,
         Style::default().fg(colorscheme.input.input_fg).bold(),
     ))
     .block(arrow_block);

tests/cli/cli_ui.rs

@@ -89,6 +89,63 @@ fn test_input_header_in_adhoc_mode() {
     PtyTester::assert_exit_ok(&mut child, DEFAULT_DELAY);
 }
 
+/// Tests that --input-prompt customizes the prompt symbol in Channel Mode.
+#[test]
+fn test_input_prompt_in_channel_mode() {
+    let mut tester = PtyTester::new();
+
+    // This overrides the channel's default input prompt with custom symbol
+    let mut cmd = tv_local_config_and_cable_with_args(&["files"]);
+    cmd.args(["--input-prompt", "❯ "]);
+    let mut child = tester.spawn_command_tui(cmd);
+
+    // Verify the custom input prompt is displayed
+    tester.assert_tui_frame_contains("❯ ");
+    tester.assert_tui_frame_contains("CHANNEL  files");
+
+    // Send Ctrl+C to exit
+    tester.send(&ctrl('c'));
+    PtyTester::assert_exit_ok(&mut child, DEFAULT_DELAY);
+}
+
+/// Tests that --input-prompt works in Ad-hoc Mode.
+#[test]
+fn test_input_prompt_in_adhoc_mode() {
+    let mut tester = PtyTester::new();
+
+    // This provides a custom input prompt for an ad-hoc channel
+    let mut cmd =
+        tv_local_config_and_cable_with_args(&["--source-command", "ls"]);
+    cmd.args(["--input-prompt", "→ "]);
+    let mut child = tester.spawn_command_tui(cmd);
+
+    // Verify the custom input prompt is displayed
+    tester.assert_tui_frame_contains("→ ");
+    tester.assert_tui_frame_contains("CHANNEL  custom");
+
+    // Send Ctrl+C to exit
+    tester.send(&ctrl('c'));
+    PtyTester::assert_exit_ok(&mut child, DEFAULT_DELAY);
+}
+
+/// Tests that the default input prompt "> " is used when no custom prompt is specified.
+#[test]
+fn test_default_input_prompt() {
+    let mut tester = PtyTester::new();
+
+    // This uses the default input prompt
+    let cmd = tv_local_config_and_cable_with_args(&["files"]);
+    let mut child = tester.spawn_command_tui(cmd);
+
+    // Verify the default input prompt is displayed
+    tester.assert_tui_frame_contains("> ");
+    tester.assert_tui_frame_contains("CHANNEL  files");
+
+    // Send Ctrl+C to exit
+    tester.send(&ctrl('c'));
+    PtyTester::assert_exit_ok(&mut child, DEFAULT_DELAY);
+}
+
 /// Tests that --ui-scale adjusts the overall interface size.
 #[test]
 fn test_ui_scale() {