How to launch Windows Terminal with Multiple Tabs?

ONLINECAST

2 min read

·

05-10-2024

12

0

Share

Launching Windows Terminal with Multiple Tabs: A Beginner's Guide

Windows Terminal is a powerful command-line interface that offers a modern and customizable experience. One of its key features is the ability to open multiple tabs, allowing you to manage different tasks and environments efficiently. In this article, we'll explore how to launch Windows Terminal with pre-defined tabs, simplifying your workflow and maximizing productivity.

Scenario and Code

Let's say you're a developer who regularly works with Git, PowerShell, and a Python environment. Opening each of these individually in separate Terminal windows can be cumbersome. Instead, you can launch Windows Terminal with pre-configured tabs, making your workflow more streamlined.

Here's a simple example of a settings.json file that configures three tabs:

{
  "profiles": {
    "defaults": {
      "startingDirectory": "C:\\Users\\<YourUserName>"
    },
    "list": [
      {
        "guid": "{61C64009-2759-49F9-8001-F517364D60A5}",
        "name": "Git Bash",
        "commandline": "C:\\Program Files\\Git\\bin\\bash.exe",
        "icon": "C:\\Program Files\\Git\\mingw64\\share\\git\\git-for-windows.ico"
      },
      {
        "guid": "{87478540-6185-44EE-9011-653086140C58}",
        "name": "PowerShell",
        "commandline": "powershell.exe",
        "icon": "C:\\Windows\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe"
      },
      {
        "guid": "{5A9605A2-890C-45CA-90E2-7C17B45850E4}",
        "name": "Python",
        "commandline": "python",
        "icon": "C:\\Users\\<YourUserName>\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Python\\Python310\\python.exe"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Explanation:

• profiles.defaults: Sets the default starting directory for all tabs.
• profiles.list: Defines each tab:
  • guid: A unique identifier for the tab (you can customize this).
  • name: The displayed name for the tab.
  • commandline: The command to launch when the tab is opened.
  • icon: (Optional) An icon to represent the tab.

How to Use the Settings

1. Open settings.json: Go to your Windows Terminal settings by right-clicking the icon in your taskbar and selecting "Settings". This will open the settings.json file in your default text editor.

2. Paste the code: Copy and paste the code above into the settings.json file. Adjust the commandline and icon paths to reflect the locations of your applications.

3. Save the file: Save the settings.json file.

4. Relaunch Windows Terminal: Close the current Windows Terminal window and open a new one. Your pre-configured tabs will be displayed, ready for use.

Additional Tips and Tricks

• Customize the appearance: Windows Terminal offers extensive customization options. You can change colors, fonts, backgrounds, and even add themes.
• Create custom profiles: The profiles.list array allows you to create tabs for any command-line tool you need.
• Keyboard shortcuts: Take advantage of keyboard shortcuts for efficient tab management. For example, Ctrl + Shift + T opens a new tab, Ctrl + Tab switches between tabs, and Ctrl + W closes the current tab.

Conclusion

Launching Windows Terminal with multiple tabs allows you to streamline your workflow and improve efficiency. By customizing your settings.json file, you can tailor the experience to your specific needs. Embrace the power of pre-configured tabs and boost your productivity in the command-line world.