Windows Terminal
Windows 11, along with the latest updates to Windows 10, introduces a modern text command interface known as Windows Terminal. This innovative tool acts as a shell for the traditional Command Prompt and PowerShell, allowing users to open multiple tabs and access unique commands exclusive to each environment.
While the Terminal may not be a daily necessity for the average user, understanding its functionality can prove invaluable. Certain system settings are only accessible through this interface, and modifications to the Windows registry are often more straightforward when executed via Terminal.
One particularly useful feature for everyday tasks is the ability to manage software installations. The built-in tool, Winget, facilitates the installation, updating, and uninstallation of applications directly from the Microsoft Store. For additional software management, third-party options like Chocolatey are also available.
To illustrate, installing Microsoft PowerToys for your user account is as simple as entering the following command:
winget install Microsoft.PowerToys -s winget
By simply typing winget and pressing return, users can view a comprehensive list of available features. For those seeking guidance on a specific feature, appending –help will display the relevant help file. For instance, winget install –help provides detailed instructions on utilizing the install feature. If the intention is to install software for all users on the machine, adding –scope machine after install will achieve this.
Updating applications is equally efficient with Winget. Instead of manually launching each application to check for updates, users can simply enter the following command to update all installed applications that Winget identifies as needing updates:
winget upgrade –all –silent
For applications requiring administrative privileges for installation or updates, user approval will be necessary for each update. However, this can be streamlined by running Terminal as an administrator.
Chocolatey, a package manager akin to those found in Linux environments, offers another layer of software management. Although its installation process is somewhat more complex, those interested are encouraged to consult the developers’ instructions for guidance.
