Windows offers a variety of graphical tools, yet they may not always be the most efficient for completing tasks. For those familiar with terminal commands, three compact utilities can effectively substitute File Explorer navigation, Task Manager, and Notepad for daily operations. Each of these tools can be swiftly installed using winget.
zoxide
Jump to any folder by typing a few letters
Navigating through intricate folder structures in File Explorer often requires multiple clicks or lengthy path pastes into the address bar. Enter zoxide, a directory jumper crafted in Rust that alleviates this hassle by learning your navigation habits. It serves as a more intelligent alternative to the cd command in your terminal, allowing you to reach almost any directory with just a few keystrokes.
Installation is straightforward; simply run winget install ajeetdsouza.zoxide in PowerShell or Windows Terminal. To activate it, add a line to your PowerShell profile as outlined in the documentation: Invoke-Expression (& { (zoxide init powershell | Out-String) }). After restarting the terminal, the z command will be ready for use.
As you navigate, zoxide builds a database of your movements, scoring folders based on frequency and recency of visits. Once a folder is recorded, typing z followed by a portion of its name will take you there directly. For instance, typing z proj can whisk you away to a deeply nested project folder that would typically require several clicks. If you prefer a visual selection, the zi command opens an interactive picker powered by fzf, which is particularly useful when multiple directories share similar names.
The real advantage lies in bypassing the visual search entirely. There’s no need to open windows, expand sidebars, or scroll through lists. As zoxide adapts to your usage patterns, the shortcuts become increasingly efficient over time. This utility also extends its functionality to other shells, including Bash and Zsh, making it versatile across different environments. However, it does require an initial learning phase, as zoxide can only jump to directories it has previously accessed.
btop
A full system monitor that lives in your terminal
When a Windows PC experiences sluggishness, Task Manager is often the go-to solution. However, it can be cumbersome, spreading information across multiple tabs and requiring several clicks to find specific details. btop, a resource monitor originally designed for Linux, offers a more streamlined approach by displaying processor, memory, disk, network, and process data all on a single terminal screen. The Windows version, known as btop4win, can be installed with winget install aristocratos.btop4win.
Upon launching btop by typing btop, users are greeted with live graphs that fill the terminal. The interface showcases each CPU core’s activity, memory and disk usage, network throughput, and a sortable list of processes. Continuous updates allow users to observe spikes in real-time, rather than after switching tabs. The layout is responsive, adapting to window size changes seamlessly.
Unlike many terminal tools, btop allows navigation via both keyboard and mouse. Users can filter the process list by typing part of a name, sort by various metrics, and even switch to a tree view that illustrates process hierarchies. This enables users to terminate processes without leaving the interface, addressing the primary reason many turn to Task Manager. With adjustable themes and refresh rates, users can customize their experience based on preference.
The practical benefit of btop is its ability to quickly identify resource consumption issues. If a fan revs up or a game lags, a single command reveals what is straining system resources. This interface is also accessible on Linux, providing a consistent experience across platforms. However, it’s important to note that while btop offers a faster overview, it lacks some Windows-specific features found in Task Manager, making it more suitable as a preliminary diagnostic tool.
bat
Read files with syntax highlighting instead of opening Notepad
Typically, double-clicking a text file opens Notepad, which presents unformatted text and takes time to launch. bat is a command-line file viewer that displays file contents directly in the terminal, complete with syntax highlighting, line numbers, and Git integration. This utility, likened to a cat clone, can be installed on Windows using winget install sharkdp.bat.
Using bat is as simple as typing bat followed by the filename. The output is color-coded according to the file’s language, with line numbers conveniently displayed. Within a Git repository, bat highlights lines that have been added, modified, or removed since the last commit, facilitating quick reviews without needing to open an editor or run a separate diff command.
For longer files, bat intelligently manages output by utilizing a pager, allowing users to scroll through content rather than watching it scroll past. If plain output is required, the --plain option removes decorations, and bat adjusts its output based on whether it’s being redirected. Some setup considerations include the fact that PowerShell maps cat to its own Get-Content command, necessitating either direct calls to bat or the creation of an alias. Additionally, users can customize color themes to suit their terminal backgrounds.
The efficiency of bat lies in its ability to streamline workflows. Reading a file no longer necessitates leaving the terminal, waiting for a window to open, and then closing it again. While bat serves as a viewer rather than an editor, it significantly enhances the experience of inspecting files.
Three small tools that beat their graphical counterparts
In summary, zoxide, btop, and bat each offer a faster terminal alternative to common Windows tasks. They can be installed in mere seconds via Winget and do not require extensive learning curves. Users can start with the tool that aligns with their most frequent tasks and gradually incorporate the others as they become accustomed to the commands.
