# Cmder — Portable Console Emulator for Windows

> A software package that provides a full-featured portable terminal emulator for Windows with Unix command support, Git integration, and customizable appearance.

## Install

Save in your project root:

# Cmder — Portable Console Emulator for Windows

## Quick Use
```powershell
# Download full version (includes Git for Windows)
# Extract to any folder, no installation required
# Run Cmder.exe
# Or add to PATH for system-wide access:
set PATH=%PATH%;C:\cmder
cmder /REGISTER ALL
```

## Introduction
Cmder is a portable console emulator for Windows that bundles ConEmu, clink, and Git for Windows into a single package. It provides a Unix-like terminal experience on Windows without requiring WSL, offering colored output, tab completion, and a polished interface out of the box.

## What Cmder Does
- Provides tabbed terminal sessions with split-pane support on Windows
- Bundles Unix commands (ls, grep, cat, ssh) via Git for Windows MSYS2
- Adds bash-style line editing and history to cmd.exe via clink
- Supports cmd, PowerShell, bash, and WSL shells in tabs simultaneously
- Runs as a portable app from USB or any directory without admin rights

## Architecture Overview
Cmder wraps ConEmu as the terminal multiplexer and rendering engine. clink injects into cmd.exe to provide readline-style editing, completions, and history persistence. The Git for Windows layer provides MSYS2 utilities, giving access to standard Unix tools. All components are preconfigured and portable in a single directory.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Download Mini (no Git) or Full (with Git for Windows) from the releases page
- Extract to any folder; settings persist within the Cmder directory
- Customize via Settings (Win+Alt+P) for fonts, colors, startup tasks
- Add custom startup scripts in config/user_profile.cmd or user_profile.ps1
- Register as default terminal via cmder /REGISTER ALL (requires admin once)

## Key Features
- Fully portable: carry your configured terminal on a USB drive
- Monokai color scheme and custom prompt configured by default
- Aliases support: define shortcuts in config/user_aliases.cmd
- Integration with VS Code, IntelliJ, and other editors as external terminal
- Supports task-based startup to launch multiple shells in predefined layouts

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Windows Terminal** — Microsoft-native, faster rendering, but not portable
- **ConEmu** — the underlying engine; Cmder adds clink, Git, and defaults
- **MobaXterm** — includes SSH/X11 but is partially closed-source
- **Terminus (Tabby)** — Electron-based, cross-platform, heavier resource usage

## FAQ
**Q: Does Cmder work alongside Windows Terminal?**
A: Yes, you can use both. Some users keep Cmder for its portability and aliases.

**Q: How do I add Cmder to right-click context menu?**
A: Run Cmder.exe /REGISTER ALL from an elevated command prompt.

**Q: Can I use Cmder with WSL?**
A: Yes, add a task in Settings > Startup > Tasks with the command: wsl.exe -d Ubuntu.

**Q: Is Cmder still relevant with Windows Terminal available?**
A: Cmder remains useful for its portability, bundled Unix tools, and zero-install setup on managed machines.

## Sources
- https://github.com/cmderdev/cmder
- https://cmder.app/

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