How I Use A Drop-down Terminal For Faster Command Line Work On My Mac

1 month ago

How to adhd a drop-down terminal to MacOS for much businesslike bid statement work

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ZDNET cardinal takeaways

A drop-down terminal makes for an businesslike CLI.
MacOS doesn't see a built-in drop-down terminal.
With nan thief of iTerm2, you tin make this happen.

I've utilized drop-down terminals for a agelong clip because I don't person to return my fingers disconnected nan keyboard to tally a command. Instead of grabbing nan mouse, opening nan desktop menu, uncovering nan terminal, opening nan terminal, moving nan command, and closing nan terminal, I tin deed a keyboard hotkey operation to unfastened nan terminal, tally my command, and deed nan aforesaid hotkey to disregard nan terminal.

Additionally, I tin configure a drop-down terminal to inhabit only a definite magnitude of space, allowing maine to time off it unfastened if needed without interfering pinch different apps.

In different words, drop-down terminals are a very businesslike method of utilizing nan command line.

Also: 6 features I wish MacOS would transcript from Linux

You tin adhd a drop-down terminal connected MacOS, acknowledgment to iTerm2. Although it takes immoderate configuration, it's good worthy nan effort.

Let maine show you really this is done (and it useful connected MacOS Tahoe arsenic well).

How to instal iTerm2

The first point you must do is instal iTerm2, and here's how.

Double-click nan downloaded zip file, which will extract nan iTerm2 file. Drag that record to nan Applications files successful Finder.

That's it for installation. Now let's instrumentality iTerm2 into moving arsenic a drop-down terminal.

How to configure iTerm for drop-down usage

This tin beryllium a spot tricky, truthful travel on closely.

1. Open iTerm2 preferences

The first point to do is unfastened nan iTerm2 preferences. To do this, click nan iTerm2 paper entry, and past click Preferences.

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2. Create a dedicated hotkey model

In iTerm2 preferences, click Keys > Hotkey. Click "Create a Dedicated Hotkey Window…" and delegate nan hotkey you'd for illustration to use. Keep successful mind that you don't want to delegate a hotkey that's utilized by different app. I chose Ctrl+T.

3. Create a hotkey floor plan

Go to Settings > Keys and click Create a Dedicated Hotkey Window. In nan resulting pop-up, click Click to Set adjacent to Hotkey, and configure your hotkey to telephone up iTerm2 (even erstwhile it's not active). I for illustration enabling nan Double-tap cardinal action and leaving it arsenic nan default. That way, I tin telephone up iTerm2 by double-clicking nan Control button. YMMV.

This will create a caller hotkey floor plan named Hotkey Window.

4. Select a hotkey profile

Go to Settings > Profiles > Hotkey Window > Keys, and cheque nan "A hotkey toggles a dedicated model pinch this profile" option. Choose "Hotkey Window" successful nan pop-up paper (this should beryllium selected by default).

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5. Configure nan look and consciousness

By default, nan Hotkey Profile model will agelong crossed nan apical of nan screen, and nan hotkey will driblet nan model down from nan top, complete pinch animation. You tin customize that successful Settings > Profiles > Hotkey Window > Window. I chose Full-width Top of Screen for my Style, New windows group to 80, and 25 rows.

6. Enable iTerm2 to auto-start astatine login

You now request to spell to nan System Settings app (Apple Menu > System Settings). Go to General > Login Items & Extensions, and past adhd iTerm to unfastened astatine login.

At this point, you tin deed your hotkey (or double-click nan Control fastener -- nevertheless you've configured it), and iTerm2 will unfastened arsenic a drop-down terminal.

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One point to support successful mind is that Stage Manager (which I use) tin sometimes origin problems pinch nan drop-down terminal. To get astir that, you can't person different model successful attraction because your hotkey could conflict pinch a keyboard operation for that app.

This is simply a awesome measurement to adhd speedy entree to your terminal successful MacOS.

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