Basic configuration for GNU Screen

.screenrc

# tell screen how to set colors. AB = background, AF=foreground
termcapinfo xterm 'Co#256:AB=\E[48;5;%dm:AF=\E[38;5;%dm'
# erase background with current bg color
defbce "on"

# show status bar
hardstatus alwayslastline
hardstatus string '%{= kG}[ %{G}%H %{g}][%= %{=kw}%?%-Lw%?%{r}(%{W}%n*%f%t%?(%u)%?%{r})%{w}%?%+Lw%?%?%= %{g}][%{B}%Y-%m-%d %{W}%c %{g}]'

# don't display the copyright page
startup_message off

# enable more colors
term screen-256color

# hide text from closed editors
altscreen on

# configure default shells
screen -t shell1 0
screen -t editor 1 vim ~

# disable visual bell
vbell off