freundcloud

Windows Terminal (2025)

Windows Terminal is a modern, customizable terminal for running WSL, PowerShell, Azure CLI, and other DevOps tools on Windows. It is essential for engineers working in hybrid or cloud-native environments.

Installation

Install Windows Terminal using winget:

winget install --id Microsoft.WindowsTerminal -e

Configure Nerd Fonts for DevOps Workflows

Download and install a Nerd Font (for icons and better prompt rendering):

curl.exe -O -J -L https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/download/v3.0.2/CascadiaCode.zip
Expand-Archive .\CascadiaCode.zip -DestinationPath $env:USERPROFILE\Fonts
  • Open Settings > Personalization > Fonts and install the font if not auto-installed.
  • In Windows Terminal, go to Settings > Profiles > Defaults > Appearance and set the font to CaskaydiaCove Nerd Font Mono.

Real-Life DevOps Usage

  • Run WSL (Ubuntu, NixOS), PowerShell, Azure CLI, AWS CLI, and gcloud in tabs or panes
  • Use with Oh My Posh for a cloud-aware, Git-enabled prompt
  • Integrate with VS Code for seamless terminal/editor workflows
  • Use with tmux or byobu for multiplexed sessions
  • Run automation scripts for IaC, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines

Best Practices (2025)

  • Use Windows Terminal as your default terminal for all shells (WSL, PowerShell, Command Prompt)
  • Sync settings with your Microsoft account for portability
  • Use Nerd Fonts for improved prompt and LLM (Copilot, Claude) output
  • Customize key bindings and color schemes for productivity
  • Keep Windows Terminal and fonts up to date

Common Pitfalls

  • Not setting the correct font in Windows Terminal settings (icons may not render)
  • Forgetting to install the font for all users if using multiple accounts
  • Not updating Windows Terminal, missing new features and bug fixes

References