How to use the command 'gnome-terminal' (with examples)

GNOME Terminal is a powerful terminal emulator designed for the GNOME desktop environment. It allows users to run and manage shell commands in a graphical interface. This tool offers various functionalities such as opening new terminal windows or tabs, running specific commands upon startup, and customizing the terminal experience, including setting tab titles and appearances. Below, we delve into several use cases demonstrating how to utilize ‘gnome-terminal’.

Open a new GNOME terminal window

Code:

gnome-terminal

Motivation:

Sometimes, you may find yourself needing to run multiple terminal sessions concurrently, each dedicated to a different task or project. Opening a new GNOME terminal window allows you to separate these sessions clearly, maintaining an organized workflow. It’s particularly useful in development environments where you are managing different applications or databases.

Explanation:

• gnome-terminal: This command on its own launches a new GNOME Terminal window. By default, this new window opens in the current user’s home directory and is ready for input.

Example Output:

Upon executing the command, a new GNOME Terminal window will appear on your desktop, ready for interaction and input of shell commands.

Run a specific command in a new terminal window

Code:

gnome-terminal -- command

Motivation:

There might be situations where you need to run a particular command instantly in a distinct terminal window, perhaps for monitoring purposes or to run a script that needs its own dedicated session. This approach enables you to keep your tasks separate and your workspace clean.

Explanation:

• gnome-terminal: Initiates a new terminal session.
• --: This separator indicates that everything following it is part of a command to be executed in the new terminal.
• command: Replace this with the specific command you want to run, for example, top to monitor system processes.

Example Output:

After executing gnome-terminal -- top, a GNOME Terminal window opens and runs the top command, displaying real-time system processes and resource usage.

Open a new tab in the last opened window instead

Code:

gnome-terminal --tab

Motivation:

In a scenario where screen space is limited or when you prefer to keep related terminal tasks within the same window for easy switching, opening a new tab in an existing window is ideal. This grants you all the benefits of multitasking without cluttering your desktop with multiple windows.

Explanation:

• gnome-terminal: Starts a new terminal session.
• --tab: Rather than starting an entirely new window, this flag adds a new tab to the last active GNOME Terminal window, allowing for quick switching between tabs.

Example Output:

Executing the command results in the addition of a new tab in the most recently used GNOME Terminal window, ready to accept commands.

Set the title of the new tab

Code:

gnome-terminal --tab --title "title"

Motivation:

When juggling multiple tabs within a single terminal window, it can be challenging to remember the purpose of each one. Setting a descriptive title for each tab improves clarity and navigability, particularly useful in complex workflows involving multiple scripts or servers.

Explanation:

• gnome-terminal: Opens a new terminal session.
• --tab: Adds a new tab to the last used terminal window.
• --title "title": Assigns a custom title to the tab, replacing "title" with a meaningful identifier, such as “Server Logs” or “Debug Session”.

Example Output:

Issuing the command with a specified title, such as gnome-terminal --tab --title "Server Logs", results in a new tab being added to the terminal with “Server Logs” displayed as its name.

Conclusion:

The GNOME Terminal is a versatile tool making it easier to manage multiple shell tasks through its flexible window and tab management features. These use cases exemplify how you can efficiently organize your terminal sessions, enhance productivity, and maintain a clean and effective workflow. By employing GNOME Terminal’s variety of options, users can tailor their terminal interactions to suit their individual needs and preferences.