|$ curl https://forge-ai.dev/api/markdown?path=docs/os/windows
$cat docs/windows-for-developers.md
updated Recently·20 min read·published
Windows for Developers
Introduction
Modern Windows is a capable developer platform. With Windows Terminal, PowerShell, WSL, and winget, you can build web, cloud, and AI applications using the same tools as macOS and Linux users.
Windows Terminal
Windows Terminal is a modern terminal emulator that supports tabs, panes, profiles, GPU rendering, and custom themes. It can host PowerShell, Command Prompt, WSL, and Azure Cloud Shell in one window.
terminal.ps1
POWERSHELL
| 1 | # Install via winget |
| 2 | winget install Microsoft.WindowsTerminal |
| 3 | |
| 4 | # Open WSL from terminal |
| 5 | wsl |
PowerShell
PowerShell is a cross-platform shell and scripting language built on .NET. It uses objects instead of plain text, making it powerful for automation.
powershell.ps1
POWERSHELL
| 1 | # Install PowerShell 7 |
| 2 | winget install Microsoft.PowerShell |
| 3 | |
| 4 | # Basic commands |
| 5 | Get-ChildItem # like ls |
| 6 | Set-Location # like cd |
| 7 | Get-Process # like ps |
| 8 | Invoke-RestMethod # like curl |
| 9 | |
| 10 | # Profile for customization |
| 11 | $PROFILE |
winget Package Manager
winget.ps1
POWERSHELL
| 1 | winget search node |
| 2 | winget install OpenJS.NodeJS |
| 3 | winget install Git.Git |
| 4 | winget install Microsoft.VisualStudioCode |
| 5 | winget upgrade --all |
WSL
WSL lets you run Linux directly on Windows. See the dedicated WSL guide for setup and best practices.
wsl.ps1
POWERSHELL
| 1 | wsl --install |
| 2 | wsl --install -d Ubuntu |
| 3 | wsl --set-default-version 2 |
Recommended Dev Setup
- Install Windows Terminal and PowerShell 7.
- Install Git, VS Code, Node.js, and Docker Desktop with winget.
- Enable WSL 2 and install Ubuntu.
- Store projects in the Linux filesystem for best performance.
- Use code . from WSL to open VS Code with the WSL remote extension.