Windows·29 questions

How to configure and use the Windows Terminal tool to work with the command line, PowerShell, and WSL in a single environment?

Answer

The Windows Terminal tool is a modern, feature-rich, and customizable shell for all command-line interfaces in the Windows operating system. It combines the classic command prompt, PowerShell, Azure Cloud Shell, and Linux environments via the WSL subsystem in a single window. To get started, simply install the application from the official Microsoft Store, after which it will become available via the Start menu or a key combination.

The main advantage of Windows Terminal is its tabbed interface and support for splitting the screen into multiple panes. The user can simultaneously run PowerShell scripts, debug code in Ubuntu via WSL, and check network connections in the classic console without switching between different windows. The interface supports modern fonts with icons and colors, making the output of information more visual.

Application configuration is done by editing the JSON configuration file or using the graphical settings menu. In the settings, you can change the default color scheme, set background transparency, assign hotkeys for quickly creating new tabs and managing panes. You can also configure profiles so that launching a specific tab immediately opens the required project working folder or runs a specific script.

For efficient use of Windows Terminal, it is recommended to perform the following actions.

Open program settings by pressing the Ctrl and comma key combination.
Go to the profiles section and select the desired shell, for example, PowerShell or your WSL distribution.
Set this profile as the default for new tabs so you don't have to choose it manually.
Configure terminal startup with a specific project starting directory to save time.
Use the Alt plus Shift plus minus or plus sign key combinations to quickly split the screen into panes.

Mastering this tool significantly increases the productivity of developers and system administrators, allowing them to centrally manage all text interfaces in a single working environment with the possibility of deep customization to individual visual preferences.

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