iTerm

iTerm is a popular terminal emulator for macOS that provides many features and customisation options for developers. In this tutorial, we will cover how to set up iTerm for web development and some useful features that can help improve your workflow.

Download and installation

To download and install iTerm, visit the iTerm website (https://www.iterm2.com/) and click the “Download” button. This will download the iTerm installer package to your computer. Double-click the installer package to open it, and then follow the prompts to install iTerm.

Configuration

After installing iTerm, you can customize its appearance and behavior to suit your needs. Here are some options that you may want to consider:

  • Profiles: iTerm allows you to create multiple profiles, each with its own settings and configurations. To create a new profile, go to “Preferences” > “Profiles” and click the “+” button. You can then customize the profile’s settings, such as the font, color scheme, and window size.
  • Key bindings: iTerm allows you to customize the key bindings for various actions, such as creating new windows or tabs, copying and pasting text, and switching between profiles. To customize the key bindings, go to “Preferences” > “Keys” and click the “+” button to add a new key binding.
  • Splitting windows and panes: iTerm allows you to split the window into multiple panes, each with its own terminal session. This can be useful if you want to run multiple commands at the same time or compare the output of different commands. To split the window horizontally or vertically, go to “Window” > “Split Horizontally with Current Profile” or “Split Vertically with Current Profile”.

Useful features

iTerm has many features that can help improve your workflow as a web developer. Here are a few that you may find useful:

  • Search: iTerm has a built-in search feature that allows you to search for text within the terminal window. To search for text, go to “Edit” > “Find” or use the keyboard shortcut Command + F. You can also use the search bar at the top of the window to search for text in the terminal history.
  • Auto-completion: iTerm supports auto-completion for commands and file paths, which can save time and reduce typing errors. To use auto-completion, start typing a command or file path and then press the Tab key to complete it. If there are multiple options, you can press Tab multiple times to cycle through the options.
  • Profiles: You can use iTerm profiles to create different environments for different projects. For example, you could create a profile for each of your projects and customize the settings, such as the color scheme and window size, to suit the project’s needs. You can then switch between profiles easily using the “Profiles” menu or the keyboard shortcut Command + ;.
  • Shell integration: iTerm supports shell integration, which allows you to use iTerm features within your terminal shell. For example, you can use the iterm2 command to open a new iTerm window or tab from the command line, or use the iterm2_print function to print text to the terminal window. To enable shell integration, go to “Preferences” > “General” and check the “Load preferences from a custom folder or URL” option. Then, specify the path to your shell integration script (usually located at ~/.iterm2_shell_integration. followed by the name of your shell, such as bash or zsh).
  • Hotkey window: The iTerm hotkey window allows you to quickly access your terminal from anywhere on your computer using a customizable hotkey. To enable the hotkey window, go to “Preferences” > “Keys” and add a new key binding for “Hotkey Window”. Then, specify the hotkey that you want to use to open the window.
  • Bookmarks: iTerm allows you to create bookmarks for frequently used directories or commands. To create a bookmark, go to “Preferences” > “Profiles” > “Bookmarks” and click the “+” button. You can then specify the name and command or directory path for the bookmark. To access your bookmarks, click the “Bookmarks” button in the iTerm toolbar or use the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + B.

Additional resources

iTerm has many more features and customization options available, and learning them can take time and practice. Here are some additional resources that can help you learn more about using iTerm for web development:

I hope this tutorial has helped you understand how to set up iTerm for web development and some of the useful features that it has to offer. With practice and exploration, you will become more comfortable and efficient at using iTerm to improve your workflow as a web developer.