ConEmu vs Windows Terminal: What are the differences?

Introduction

ConEmu and Windows Terminal are both command line interfaces for Windows operating system. While they have similarities, there are key differences that set them apart. In this Markdown code, we will explore and highlight those differences.

1. Customization: ConEmu allows extensive customization with a variety of options such as choosing different shells, fonts, and colors. On the other hand, Windows Terminal provides limited customization options in comparison, with only the ability to set theme colors and background image.

2. Tabs and Panes: ConEmu supports both tabs and panes, allowing users to have multiple terminals in one window. This feature is especially useful for multitasking and managing multiple command line sessions efficiently. Windows Terminal, however, only supports tabs, and not panes, meaning you can only have multiple terminals in separate tabs.

3. Compatibility: ConEmu supports a wider range of shells, including CMD, PowerShell, Git Bash, and more. Windows Terminal, on the other hand, is designed to work specifically with PowerShell, CMD, and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), providing a more streamlined experience for these shells.

4. GPU Acceleration: Windows Terminal utilizes GPU acceleration for rendering, resulting in smoother scrolling and improved performance when dealing with large outputs. ConEmu, on the other hand, does not utilize GPU acceleration and may sometimes experience slight lag or delays with large outputs.

5. Link Highlighting: ConEmu has a feature that automatically highlights and makes URLs clickable in the terminal, allowing users to easily open links. Windows Terminal, however, does not have this feature, requiring users to manually copy and paste URLs into a web browser.

6. Split-Screen Support: Windows Terminal natively supports split-screen layouts, allowing users to view multiple terminals side by side in a vertical or horizontal split. ConEmu, on the other hand, does not have native support for split-screen layouts and would require additional tools or configurations to achieve a similar effect.

In summary, ConEmu offers more customization options, extensive shell compatibility, and features like panes, link highlighting, and split-screen support, while Windows Terminal prioritizes a streamlined experience with GPU acceleration, native split-screen support, and limited customization options.