PowerLine

Powerline is a term used in different fields to describe lines or technologies associated with delivering power or information across a system. In electrical engineering, it usually refers to physical conductors that carry electrical power from generation to consumers. In data networking, it can denote technologies that use existing electrical wiring to transmit data, known as powerline communication. It is also the name of a software project that provides enhanced status lines and prompts for terminal applications such as Vim and tmux.

In the context of electrical power, power lines include overhead transmission lines and underground cables that form regional networks. High‑voltage transmission lines move bulk power from generators to substations, where voltage is stepped down for distribution. Distribution lines then deliver electricity to homes and businesses. The power grid relies on extensive infrastructure, protective relays, and regular maintenance to ensure reliability and safety, along with regulatory standards governing construction and operation.

Powerline communication (PLC) uses existing electrical wiring to carry data signals, enabling devices to form a network without new cabling. Adapters connect to a building’s outlets to create the network, which can support home networking, smart appliances, and building automation. PLC can be affected by electrical noise, impedance, and distance, and it employs various standards and implementations, such as HomePlug, G.hn, and the IEEE 1901 family.

Powerline (software) is a status line framework for Vim, Neovim, tmux, Bash, and Zsh that renders a segmented, configurable status line across applications. It aggregates information like the current mode, Git branch, and time into themed blocks. The project emphasizes cross‑application consistency and visual clarity, often using patched fonts to display graphical glyphs. It is maintained as open‑source software with multiple themes and configurations.