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Multiple Terminals in VS Code

Introduction

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a powerful code editor that integrates many features to enhance productivity. One of these features is the integrated terminal, which allows developers to run command-line operations directly within the IDE. This tutorial will guide you through the process of using multiple terminals within VS Code to manage different tasks seamlessly.

Opening Multiple Terminals

To open a new terminal in VS Code, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + `. This will open the integrated terminal at the bottom of the editor. To create additional terminals, follow these steps:

  1. Open the terminal using the shortcut or through the menu: Terminal > New Terminal.
  2. Once you have your first terminal open, you can create another by clicking on the plus icon (+) in the terminal panel.
  3. Repeat the process to open as many terminals as you need.

Example:

Open your first terminal and create a new terminal using the plus icon.

Terminal 1: $ npm start
Terminal 2: $ python app.py

Switching Between Terminals

Once you have multiple terminals open, you can easily switch between them. Use the following methods to navigate:

  • Click on the terminal tab of the terminal you want to switch to.
  • Use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + Shift + [` or Ctrl + Shift + ]` to cycle through the open terminals.

Example:

Switching from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2:

Terminal 1: $ git status
Terminal 2: $ npm install

Renaming Terminals

Managing multiple terminals can become confusing, especially if they all have default names. You can rename your terminals for better organization:

  1. Right-click on the terminal tab you want to rename.
  2. Select Rename.
  3. Type your desired name and press Enter.

Example:

Renaming Terminal 1 to "Build Process":

Terminal (Build Process): $ npm run build

Closing Terminals

When you are done with a terminal, you can close it to free up space:

  1. Click the trash bin icon located in the terminal panel.
  2. Alternatively, right-click the terminal tab and select Kill Terminal.

Example:

Closing Terminal 2:

Terminal (Build Process): $ exit

Conclusion

Using multiple terminals in VS Code can significantly enhance your workflow by allowing you to run various commands and scripts simultaneously. This feature is particularly useful for tasks such as running a server, compiling code, and managing version control. With the ability to open, switch, rename, and close terminals, you can maintain a more organized and efficient coding environment.