Terminal Launcher

Launch and manage multiple terminals from configuration files in VS Code.

Features

• Define multiple terminals in a configuration file
• Auto-launch terminals when opening a workspace
• Group terminals together (split view)
• Customize terminal colors and icons
• Support for custom working directories and commands
• Environment variable support

Configuration

Create a .terminal or .terminal.json file in your workspace root.

JSON Format (.terminal.json)

{
  "version": "1.0",
  "groups": [
    {
      "name": "Development Servers",
      "terminals": [
        {
          "name": "Backend",
          "cwd": "./backend",
          "command": "npm run dev",
          "color": "blue",
          "icon": "server",
          "env": {
            "NODE_ENV": "development"
          }
        },
        {
          "name": "Frontend",
          "cwd": "./frontend",
          "command": "npm start",
          "color": "green",
          "icon": "browser"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Simple Format (.terminal)

[Backend Server]
cwd = ./backend
command = npm run dev
color = blue
icon = server

[Frontend App]
cwd = ./frontend
command = npm start
color = green
icon = browser

Terminal Options

• name: Display name for the terminal
• cwd: Working directory (relative to workspace or absolute)
• command: Single command to execute when terminal opens
• commands: Array of commands to execute in sequence (JSON format) or semicolon-separated (simple format)
• script: Path to external script to execute (overrides command/commands)
• commandDelay: Delay in milliseconds between commands (default: 100, JSON format only)
• color: Terminal color (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, black, white)
• icon: VS Code icon name (e.g., server, browser, database, beaker)
• env: Environment variables (JSON format only)
• shellPath: Custom shell path (JSON format only)
• shellArgs: Shell arguments (JSON format only)

Command Execution Priority

Commands are executed in this order of priority:

1. script - If specified, executes the external script
2. commands - If specified, executes multiple commands in sequence
3. command - If specified, executes a single command

Usage

1. Create a .terminal or .terminal.json file in your workspace
2. Use Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P) → "Launch Configured Terminals"
3. Or terminals will auto-launch when opening the workspace (with prompt)

Extension Settings

• terminalLauncher.configFileName: Name of the configuration file (default: .terminal)

Icon Names

Common VS Code icons you can use:

• server, database, browser, globe
• beaker, bug, code, file-code
• terminal, console, output
• gear, tools, package
• folder, folder-opened
• play, debug-start, run