wezterm VS Windows Terminal

Compare wezterm VS Windows Terminal and see what are their differences

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wezterm

GPU-accelerated cross-platform terminal emulator and multiplexer made with Rust.

Windows Terminal

A new command line interface for Windows machines

Landing page //
2023-10-02

Landing page //
2023-07-10

wezterm

Website: wezfurlong.org
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Windows Terminal

Website: devblogs.microsoft.com
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wezterm features and specs

Performance
WezTerm is known for its high performance and low resource usage, making it suitable for heavy terminal workloads.
Cross-Platform
WezTerm supports multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing for a consistent terminal experience across different environments.
Modern Features
It offers modern features like GPU acceleration, ligature support, and configurable color schemes, providing a better user experience.
Extensibility
WezTerm is highly configurable and extensible through its Lua scripting interface, letting users tailor the terminal to their workflow.
Multiplexing
It has built-in support for terminal multiplexing, which allows users to split windows and manage multiple terminal sessions more efficiently.
Active Development
The project is actively maintained and regularly updated with new features and bug fixes.

Possible disadvantages of wezterm

Steep Learning Curve
The extensive configurability and scripting capabilities can be overwhelming for new users who are not familiar with Lua or advanced terminal configurations.
Sparse Documentation
The documentation, while improving, is still not as comprehensive as some other terminals, which can make initial setup and customization challenging.
Young Project
Being relatively newer compared to some other terminal emulators, it may lack some features that long-established users might expect.
Limited Community Support
Due to its younger status and niche user base, there might be less community support and fewer third-party resources compared to more mature terminal emulators.

Windows Terminal features and specs

Unified Interface
Windows Terminal provides a single interface to access Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Azure Cloud Shell, making it easier to manage multiple command-line tools in one place.
Customizable
The terminal supports a wide range of customization options including themes, colors, and font styles, which allows users to personalize their terminal environment.
Tabbed Interface
The inclusion of tabs allows users to open multiple terminal sessions in a single window, significantly improving multitasking capabilities.
Performance
Built using modern frameworks and technologies, Windows Terminal offers enhanced performance and responsiveness compared to older terminal applications.
Regular Updates
Being an actively developed open-source project, Windows Terminal benefits from regular updates that introduce new features and fix issues.
Rich Text and Emoji Support
The terminal supports rich text, Unicode, and emojis, enhancing the user experience when working with diverse content.
Integration with Modern Development Tools
Seamless integration with modern development tools enhances workflows for developers and IT professionals.

Possible disadvantages of Windows Terminal

Learning Curve
The extensive range of features and customization options can be overwhelming for new users, requiring time to learn and adapt.
Resource Usage
Compared to traditional terminals, Windows Terminal can consume more system resources due to its advanced features and graphical interface.
Occasional Instability
As an evolving project, users might encounter occasional bugs or stability issues, especially with new updates.
Limited Backward Compatibility
Some older scripts and legacy applications might not be fully compatible with Windows Terminal, requiring adjustments.
Dependency on Modern Windows Versions
Windows Terminal requires a modern version of Windows (Windows 10 or later), making it unavailable for users on older systems.
Configuration Complexity
Advanced configuration might require editing JSON files, which can be complex and error-prone for less experienced users.

Analysis of wezterm

Overall verdict

WezTerm is generally considered a good choice for users who value performance, configurability, and modern terminal features. It stands out for its emphasis on speed and its robust set of functionalities that cater to both casual and advanced users.

Why this product is good

WezTerm is a terminal emulator known for its speed and configurability. It supports modern terminal features including GPU acceleration, ligatures, and Unicode support, making it appealing for power users and developers. The terminal's ability to handle multiple panes and tabs efficiently, along with its remote connectivity features, adds to its versatility. WezTerm's active development and responsive community are also significant advantages, ensuring ongoing improvements and support.

Recommended for

Developers looking for a fast and versatile terminal emulator.
Users who need support for GPU acceleration and modern text rendering.
People who require advanced features like quick pane and tab management.
Those who appreciate active development and community support.

Analysis of Windows Terminal

Overall verdict

Overall, Windows Terminal is regarded as a significant improvement over the traditional Command Prompt or other native terminals in Windows. It offers a more contemporary experience that caters to the needs of developers and advanced users, improving productivity with its robust feature set.

Why this product is good

Windows Terminal is considered good by many users due to its modern and customizable interface, support for multiple tabs and panes, and integration with various shells like PowerShell, Command Prompt, and WSL. It provides features such as GPU accelerated text rendering, background transparency, and extensive configuration options through a settings JSON file. Additionally, it supports a wide range of character sets and symbols, making it versatile for developers and power users.

Recommended for

Windows Terminal is highly recommended for developers, IT professionals, and power users who frequently use command-line tools and require a more flexible and efficient terminal environment.

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Windows Terminal videos

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Windows Terminal Review and Customization Tricks

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to wezterm and Windows Terminal)

Windows Terminal

SSH

68 68%

SSH

32% 32

Terminal Tools

61 61%

Terminal Tools

39% 39

Server Management

65 65%

Server Management

35% 35

Productivity

100 100%

Productivity

0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using wezterm and Windows Terminal. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, wezterm seems to be a lot more popular than Windows Terminal. While we know about 47 links to wezterm, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Windows Terminal. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

wezterm mentions (47)

Make Wezterm Mimic Tmux
A month ago, I came across WezTerm, a new GPU-accelerated, cross-platform terminal emulator written in Rust (and I’m not a Rust fanboy, for real!). It piqued my interest, so I decided to give it a try. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
In your opinion, what is the text-editor equivalent of Openbox?
2) Examples of text editors that make use of features of the gui window manager the text editor is run under: gvim, gedit, leafpad[5], overleaf[6] 3) text editor with 'run-time' presentation extension of protocols such as html : vim live server[7] 4) write one's own custom interface to use with bashed[8] ---- [0] : intro to terminal multiplexers (part 1) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0upAE692fY [1] :... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
Executable Blog Posts: Second Take
I used Lua for years to configure my awesomewm desktop environment. Then, I started using it to configure my Wezterm. Since I bumped into an Emacs bug (lsp-mode bug to be fair), I switched quickly to Neovim after 20 years of Emacs, and I am using Lua to configure my Neovim. Last but not least, OpenResty gives my Nginx superpowers with Lua. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
WezTerm: an actually good config key binding recipe
While WezTerm is a great terminal with sane defaults, it doesn't provide The default key binding to open the configuration file and edit it. That is Understandable, everyone may have their own preference for that. Here we will Figure out the recipe that would work everywhere and abide by modern standards. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
Superfile – A fancy, petty terminal file manager
I very well might be in the minority of Linux users, but I don't particularly care about the answers to most of these questions. I just want it to work. Give me solid defaults[0]. I'm not saying you shouldn't be able to override those defaults. That's an important feature of Linux. My first experience running a cool-looking TUI file manager yesterday (I actually ended up trying yazi first) was that I got a lot of... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago

Windows Terminal mentions (2)

Blocking all Calculators with windows server GPOs
Note that you'd need to block your users from Command Prompt (cmd.exe), PowerShell and the PowerShell ISE (32 and 64 flavours for both) PS> 7*12-9 returns 75, making sure it also blocks access via Windows Terminal (or Windows Terminal is disallowed from installation/execution). Source: over 3 years ago
Windows Terminal - What is it, and how can it make you productive with Azure?
I'm amazed that as I'm writing this, that Windows Terminal is almost two years old now! Windows Terminal was first announced in May 2019 in an early release stage, and later available in preview that Summer through the Microsoft Store. Windows Terminal is a modern app, decoupling the concept of a terminal and a shell, allowing you to spin up the shell that you prefer to use in a friendly, fast and productive... - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago