How can I launch a new Git Bash window with a specified working directory using a script (either Bash or Windows batch)?
My goal is to launch multiple Git Bash windows from a single script, each set to a different working directory. This way I can quickly get to work after booting the computer instead of having to open Git Bash windows and navigating each one to the correct working directory.
I am not asking how to change the default working directory, like this question does, but to launch one or more terminal windows with different working directories from a script.
This question is related to
bash
shell
batch-file
git-bash
The answer is
Git Bash uses cmd.exe for its terminal plus extentions from MSYS/MinGW which are provided by sh.exe, a sort of cmd.exe wrapper. In Windows you launch a new terminal using the start command.
Thus a shell script which launches a new Git Bash terminal with a specific working directory is:
(cd C:/path/to/dir1 && start sh --login) &
(cd D:/path/to/dir2 && start sh --login) &
An equivalent Windows batch script is:
C:
cd \path\to\dir1
start "" "%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files (x86)\Git\bin\sh.exe" --login
D:
cd \path\to\dir2
start "" "%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files (x86)\Git\bin\sh.exe" --login
To get the same font and window size as the Git Bash launched from the start menu, it is easiest to copy the start menu shortcut settings to the command console defaults (to change defaults, open cmd.exe, left-click the upper left icon, and select Defaults).
This is the command which can be executed directly in Run dialog box (shortcut is win+R) and also works well saved as a .bat script:
cmd /c (start /d "/path/to/dir" bash --login) && exit
Try the --cd= option. Assuming your GIT Bash resides in C:\Program Files\Git it would be:
"C:\Program Files\Git\git-bash.exe" --cd="e:\SomeFolder"
If used inside registry key, folder parameter can be provided with %1:
"C:\Program Files\Git\git-bash.exe" --cd="%1"
Let yet add up to the answer from @Drew Noakes:
Target:
"C:\Program Files\Git\git-bash.exe" --cd=C:\GitRepo
The cd param should be one of the options how to specify the working directory.
Also notice, that I have not any --login param there: Instead, I use another extra app, dedicated just for SSH keys: Pageant (PuTTY authentication agent).
Start in:
C:\GitRepo
The same possible way, as @Drew Noakes mentioned/shown here sooner, I use it too.
Shortcut key:
Ctrl + Alt + B
Such shortcuts are another less known feature in Windows. But there is a restriction: To let the shortcut take effect, it must be placed somewhere on the User's subdirectory: The Desktop is fine.
If you do not want it visible, yet still activatable, place this .lnk file i.e. to the quick launch folder, as that dir is purposed for such shortcuts. (no matter whether displayed on the desktop) #76080 #3619355
"\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\"
I might given a wrong direction, but, I like this trick.
Using Windows Explorer, pointing to any directory you want, type "cmd" in the address bar it will open Windows command prompt in that directory.
If you have the "Git" directory in your path, in the same way, you can type "git-bash" in the address bar and a Git Shell will open in that directory.
In addition, Win10 gives you an option to open git bash from your working directory by right-clicking on your folder and selecting GitBash here.
Windows 10
This is basically @lengxuehx's answer, but updated for Win 10, and it assumes your bash installation is from Git Bash for Windows from git's official downloads.
cmd /c (start /b "%cd%" "C:\Program Files\GitW\git-bash.exe") && exit
I ended up using this after I lost my context-menu items for Git Bash as my command to run from the registry settings. In case you're curious about that, I did this:
- Create a new key called
Bashin theshellkey atHKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell - Add a string value to
Icon(not a new key!) that is the full path to your git-bash.exe, including the git-bash.exe part. You might need to wrap this in quotes. - Edit the default value of
Bashto the text you want to use in the context menu
- Add a sub-key to
Bashcalledcommand - Modify
command's default value tocmd /c (start /b "%cd%" "C:\Program Files\GitW\git-bash.exe") && exit
Then you should be able to close the registry and start using Git Bash from anywhere that's a real directory. For example, This PC is not a real directory.
Another option is to create a shortcut with the following properties:
Target should be:
"%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files (x86)\Git\bin\sh.exe" --login
Start in is the folder you wish your Git Bash prompt to launch into.
I'm not familiar with Git Bash but assuming that it is a git shell (such as git-sh) residing in /path/to/my/gitshell and your favorite terminal program is called `myterm' you can script the following:
(cd dir1; myterm -e /path/to/my/gitshell) &
(cd dir2; myterm -e /path/to/my/gitshell) &
...
Note that the parameter -e for execution may be named differently with your favorite terminal program.
Source: Stackoverflow.com