Which shell does a new Windows Terminal tab open?
Open the tab menu and read the profile name. A profile tells Windows Terminal which shell or command to start. You might see PowerShell, Command Prompt or an installed Linux distribution. Choosing the window does not make those shells interchangeable.
If a tutorial specifies PowerShell, use that profile. A Linux profile supplied through Windows Subsystem for Linux can have different paths and commands.
How can you see the current folder without changing anything?
Open a local PowerShell tab you recognize and type Get-Location. It reports the current folder. If the path is unfamiliar or the profile starts a remote session, stop and sketch the expected path instead.
The profile can set a starting directory. The path you see can change as the session moves to another folder. Use a location check before you follow instructions that depend on it.
What can move if you switch machines?
Windows Terminal is an open-source Windows app. Keep a private copy of the profile settings you need, such as the shell choice and starting folder. Set up the shell and project files separately on the new machine.
Review settings for personal paths and machine-specific commands before sharing. The profile describes how to open a session. It does not carry the installed shell or your project.
How would you tell two tabs apart on paper?
Draw two local tabs and give each a shell name and folder. Use no remote session or repository.
- Label the exampleDraw a PowerShell tab starting in a fictional workshop folder.
- Write the read-only resultWrite the folder you expect Get-Location to report. Mark the tab to use for PowerShell instructions.