Help me make my windows cmd.exe console work more

Question

The windows terminal (the user-interface around text-applications like cmd.exe) really sucks.

There is so much that the Unix-style terminals do that the windows terminal apparently cannot do, for example what if you want to re-size the window in both dimensions by dragging the border. The Windows terminal only allows you to change it's length.

Cut & Paste, on Linux or Unix, no problem - the selection box wraps around nicely so you can cut multi-line expressions. The Windows terminal (even in Quick-Edit mode) forces a bizarre rectangular selection box which is of no practical use - you have to re-format everything you copy in notepad!

What about the fact that any time I go into 'edit' mode it blocks the application - I'm sure there are people who want to be able to cut & paste without stopping the business-critical server.

I'm sure we can think of more faults if we put our minds to it - but lets not grumble.. what can we do to make this better?

Update: Just to clarify, I'm not looking to replace cmd.exe - Powershell & CygWin both provide better alternatives. I'm trying to replace the console application, the GUI that surrounds all text-applications in Windows.

Answer 1

Not a direct answer, but since you will occasionally HAVE to work in a windows CMD window there are 2 settings that are absolutely necessary to make it tollerable.

One of the very first things I do when I get on a new computer is set the screen buffer size to 9999(height), 300(or sow width). This allows you to scroll left and right to your hearts delight, and gives you a significant buffer for examining logs. Don't set the window size, it's virtually useless.

the other thing I do is check the "QuickEdit" mode, this makes copy/past much easier, and you can quickly pause a scrolling screen by clicking/dragging in it(to begin a selection).

This isn't exactly a solution to the problem, just related advise that might be useful to solve the specific problem he mentioned in a different way (And a very useful habit!).

Answer 2

I found iPython in its -s mode to be as close as I can get. It also doubles as a python interactive shell.

Answer 3

I think your looking for Powershell which I can argue is stronger then the linux bash or atleast has the same amount of power.

Answer 4

The only 'solution' that I have found to this problem is to install Cygwin/X and use XTerm instead. I use that every day at work.

Answer 5

I use JTerm desktop console on Windows. It has Java implementations of all major Linux / Unix commands, such us ls, grep, find, cd, cp, mv etc. It has some limitations, but overall it works will.

Answer 6

I personally use Console2 with the Bash shipped with MYSYS-Git.

You can also use PuTTY and SSH to a real linux box ;-)