Cmder vs Putty: What are the differences?

Introduction

Cmder and Putty are both popular terminal emulators used for command line operations. However, there are several key differences between the two.

1. Customization Options: Cmder offers a wide range of customization options, allowing users to personalize their terminal experience. It supports various themes, fonts, colors, and icon sets, making it highly customizable. On the other hand, Putty provides limited customization options, primarily focusing on functionality rather than aesthetics.

2. SSH Support: Putty is widely known for its strong SSH client capabilities. It enables secure remote access to servers through SSH protocols, making it the go-to choice for many network administrators and developers. Cmder, on the other hand, does not have built-in SSH support and requires additional tools or configuration to enable SSH functionality.

3. Tabbed Interface: Cmder offers a tabbed interface, allowing users to have multiple command prompt sessions open within a single window. This feature enhances productivity by enabling users to switch easily between different tasks or projects. Putty, on the other hand, does not have a built-in tabbed interface and requires the use of third-party tools to achieve a similar functionality.

4. Portability: Cmder is designed to be highly portable and can be easily run from a portable storage device such as a USB flash drive. This allows users to use their personalized terminal environment on any computer without the need for installation or administration privileges. Putty, while lightweight, requires installation on each computer it is used on.

5. Integration with Windows Shell: Cmder seamlessly integrates with the Windows shell, allowing users to use Cmder as the default command prompt in their Windows environment. This integration enables users to use Cmder's features and customization options within the familiar Windows command prompt environment. Putty does not integrate with the Windows shell and operates as a separate application.

6. Scripting and Automation: Cmder provides extensive scripting and automation capabilities, allowing users to create and execute complex command sequences. This feature is particularly useful for developers and system administrators who need to automate repetitive tasks. Putty, while it supports scripting through command-line options, does not offer the same level of scripting and automation functionality as Cmder.

In Summary, Cmder offers more customization options, a tabbed interface, portability, integration with the Windows shell, and extensive scripting capabilities compared to Putty, which is well-known for its SSH support but lacks these features.