Bash on Windows as Integrated Terminal in Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code 1.2.0 is out now, and includes  a variety of exciting new features.  For example, a new integrated Terminal that allows you to stay within VS Code while using your platform’s shell.  You may have also heard that Bash support has been added to Windows 10 in the current Windows Insider Preview.  Hmmm???

In this post, we will show how to enable the Bash for Windows as an integrated terminal within Visual Studio Code =)

 

Requirements:

• PC running Windows 10

 

Part 1 – Installing Bash on Ubuntu on Windows

Step 1:

• Bash support for Windows will require enrollment in Windows Inside Preview Builds (Settings => Update & Security  => Windows Insider Program)

Step 2:

• Ensure you are on Windows Insider Preview Build 14316 or above (Settings => System => About)

Step 3:

• Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux in Windows Features and reboot if you are enabling for the first time

Step 4:

• Install Bash for Windows (type “bash” on start menu then hit Enter to run the installer)

Part 2 – Adding Bash for Windows as Integrated Terminal in VS Code

Step 1:

• Install VS Code 1.2.0 or greater

Step 2:

• Modify User Settings in VS Code (File => Preferences => User Settings) and add the following within the settings.json pane:
• “terminal.integrated.shell.windows”: “C:\\Windows\\sysnative\\bash.exe”

You can now toggle the terminal view with CTRL+` or (View => Toggle Integrated Terminal)