How to Use Integrated Terminal in Visual Studio Code

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Visual Studio CodeIntegrated TerminalCommand LineUsageToolsProductivityWorkflowConfigurationShortcutsCommandsTerminalInterfaceSetupDebuggingIntegrationScriptsDevelopmentProgrammingShellEnvironment

Visual Studio Code, often abbreviated as VS Code, is a powerful source-code editor developed by Microsoft. It is widely used by developers around the world for a variety of programming tasks. One of its notable features is the integrated terminal, which allows you to work on your projects without leaving the editor interface. Understanding how to effectively use this feature can significantly enhance your workflow. In this comprehensive guide, we will go into detail about how to use the integrated terminal in Visual Studio Code.

What is integrated terminal?

The integrated terminal in Visual Studio Code enables you to run command-line applications from within the editor itself. Unlike using a separate terminal window, the integrated terminal can switch between multiple open terminals and actively synchronize with the workspace. This means you can, for example, run a build command in one terminal while editing file code in another, all within the same window.

Installation of the integrated terminal

To start using the integrated terminal, you need to launch it within Visual Studio Code. Follow these simple steps:

1. Open Visual Studio Code.
2. Go to the menu bar at the top.
3. Click View.
4. Select Terminal from the dropdown list.

Alternatively, you can use shortcut keys by pressing Ctrl + ` on Windows/Linux and Cmd + ` on macOS.

Working with the integrated terminal

After opening the terminal, you will see it at the bottom of the VS Code window. Here is how you can work with it:

Basic operations

• To open a new terminal, you can click the plus icon (+) on the Terminal panel or simply use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + `.
• To close Terminal, use the trash can icon or type exit, then press Enter.
• To split a terminal, allowing multiple simultaneous sessions, click the split terminal icon.
• You can switch between open terminals using the dropdown menu on the Terminal panel.

Customizing the integrated terminal

VS Code offers the ability to customize the integrated terminal. You can change its appearance and behavior by changing the settings:

Changing the Shell

You can change the terminal shell to whatever you prefer, whether it’s Command Prompt, PowerShell, Git Bash, or another option:

    "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.windows": "PowerShell", "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.linux": "bash", "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.osx": "zsh"

Edit settings.json file by going to File > Preferences > Settings or press Ctrl + , and look for the Terminal section to change your default shell.

Modifications to the format

To determine the appearance of the integrated terminal, make these adjustments to the settings:

    "terminal.integrated.fontSize": 14, "terminal.integrated.fontFamily": "Courier New", "terminal.integrated.cursorBlinking": true

These settings will change the font size, font family, and blinking behavior of the text cursor in the terminal.

Terminal Profile

Visual Studio Code supports terminal profiles, which allow you to create and manage different configurations and shell environments:

    "terminal.integrated.profiles.windows": { "PowerShell": { "path": "C:\\Windows\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe" }, "Git Bash": { "source": "Git Bash" } }

By setting up terminal profiles, you can quickly switch between different environments by using the Command Palette (Ctrl + Shift + P), followed by typing "Choose default profile".

Running commands and scripts

The integrated terminal is suitable for running any terminal commands you commonly run in your development process, such as:

• Build command: Compile your source code.
• Version control commands: Use Git to manage your project repository.
• Package management commands: Use npm, pip or other package managers.
• Running tests: Execute your test suite.
• Custom scripts: Run any scripts defined in your project's configuration files.

To execute a command, simply type it into the terminal and press Enter.

Common use cases of the integrated terminal

Let's look at some common scenarios where an integrated terminal increases productivity:

Scenario 1: Working with Git

Most developers use Git for version control. The integrated terminal lets you seamlessly integrate Git commands:

    git status git add . git commit -m "Commit message" git push origin main

Having the terminal within the editor means you can quickly switch between viewing edits to a file to managing your version control system without context switching.

Scenario 2: Package management

If you're working with Node.js, Python, or other languages, you'll likely manage dependencies. Use the terminal to do this:

    npm install package-name pip install package-name

Running these commands in the integrated terminal provides immediate feedback and also access to debugger tools if needed.

Scenario 3: Running a local server

Developers often need a local server for development purposes:

    python -m http.server npm start

The output is displayed directly in the terminal, allowing you to overview the server logs and make adjustments without leaving VS Code.

Troubleshooting tips

If you have any difficulties using the integrated terminal, consider the following suggestions:

• No terminal visible: Make sure it's not minimized. Click the arrow to expand it.
• No output: Confirm that you are typing in a session with the correct shell for your project.
• Terminal settings: Review your terminal configuration in settings.json, specifically the shell path.

For more specific terminal errors, see the error codes and descriptions shown directly in the terminal or search on the Visual Studio Code community forum.

Conclusion

The integrated terminal in Visual Studio Code is a versatile feature that seamlessly combines editing and command-line workflows. By learning how to configure and efficiently use the integrated terminal, you can increase your productivity and streamline work processes. Comfortable terminal use enables you to manage various development tasks within your favorite editor, from compiling code to managing version control, keeping your entire development environment neat and organized.

This article covers the steps required to become proficient with the integrated terminal, including setup, customization, execution of commands, and common scenarios. Follow the guidelines and examples shared to take full advantage of this powerful functionality within Visual Studio Code and improve your overall coding experience.

  Share This Article

If you find anything wrong with the article content, you can request an update