Mastering Windows Terminal for Developers: A Beginner’s Guide

INTRODUCTION:

You have likely encountered Windows Terminal if you work as a Windows developer. This powerful, modern, and incredibly flexible command-line interface is made to increase your productivity. Greetings from the Windows Terminal universe! Think of it as a more advanced version of the Command Prompt, complete with features that developers love, modern, and customizable. What's the best part? It's not as scary as you may think. Regardless of your background—web development, software engineering, or beginning coding—this tutorial will teach you the fundamentals of Windows Terminal and demonstrate how to use it to boost your productivity.

💡 Windows Terminal: What is it?

Microsoft offers a free Windows Terminal program that unifies several command-line utilities into a single interface. You may use Command Prompt, PowerShell, and WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) from a single, handy location rather than juggling several programs.

Why Opt for Windows Terminal?

✅ Modern and sleek design;

✅ Tabbed browsing;

✅ Customizable color schemes and themes;

✅ Improved font clarity and efficiency;

✅ Easy access to PowerShell, Azure CLI, Git Bash, Command Prompt, and more

🚀 How to Use Windows Terminal

1. Set up Windows Terminal

The good news is that Windows Terminal is readily available for download from the Microsoft Store if you're using a current version of Windows 10 or Windows 11. Look for "Windows Terminal" and select "install." The installation procedure is simple!

You may start it after installation by looking for "Windows Terminal" in your Start Menu. It has a slick layout and probably has a PowerShell tab open by default.

2. Open Terminal in Windows

Open it from the Start Menu after installation. The following tabs are available:

• PowerShell,
• Command Prompt,
• WSL (if installed).
• The Azure Cloud Shell, if set up

You can use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + T or click the dropdown arrow to open a new tab. Let's examine the key elements you will encounter:

• Tabs: Do you see the upper bar? Your tabs are located there. There are different command-line environments for each tab.

• Panes: Would you like to see many command prompts at once? You can improve your multitasking skills by using the Windows Terminal to split a single tab into many panes.

• Profiles: These define the settings for every shell you use, including WSL, PowerShell, and Command Prompt. You can customize their appearance and features.

Basic Commands for All Developers

The following basic commands work in Linux shells, PowerShell, and Command Prompt:

Customizing the Windows Terminal

This is the real strength of Windows Terminal. Click the down arrow next to the "+" (New Tab) button to open the options, then choose "Settings." Don't worry, this will open a JSON file. Here are some choices for customization:

1. Modify the color scheme
   Select Settings → Color Schemes from the dropdown menu.
   Either choose a theme or create your own.

2. Use The Default Shell
   Would you like WSL or PowerShell to start by default?
   Go to Settings → Startup and choose your favorite default profile, such as PowerShell or Ubuntu.

3. Adjust the Visual Style and Font
   Choose the shell (like PowerShell) that you want to customize under the Profiles section. You can:

• Change the font size

• Adjust the background image.

• Adjust transparency

4. Keybindings: Customize keyboard shortcuts to increase productivity.

💡 Developer Pro Tips: Use tabs and panes to manage several projects at once.

• To divide the window horizontally, press Alt + Shift + D.

• To split it vertically, press Ctrl + Shift + D.

• Use JSON settings (Settings > Open JSON file) for more detailed customization.

Conclusion

Windows Terminal is a very useful tool on Windows if you're new to development or switching from macOS/Linux. It is clean, strong, adaptable, and free. It will quickly become second nature if you set aside just ten minutes each day to explore its features.