Set up multiple configurations

If you plan to use WSL 2 for work, personal study, or school, consider creating a separate user profile. This will allow you to organize your applications, configurations, and files. One method to set up multiple profiles is to use Windows Terminal; Once you've installed it on your Windows 10 or 11 PC, navigate to Settings > Profiles > Add.

You can adjust and modify your development environment according to various scenarios or project requirements by setting up several configurations. Having several configurations can help you become more productive and optimize your workflow, regardless of the programming language, framework, or command-line environment you use.

Multiple command-line shell settings can be defined and managed with Windows Terminal's "profiles" functionality. Different command-line environments, such as PowerShell, Command Prompt, or Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), are represented by different profiles. For every profile, you can customize several options, including the color scheme, command-line arguments, startup directory, and more. It is one of the best practices for using WSL 2 on Windows 10 & 11.

You can enter the settings file (settings.json) in Windows Terminal and define several profiles in the "profiles" section to set up multiple configurations. Every profile is distinguished by a distinct "guid" and may have a different set of attributes and customization choices. For every profile, you can set many parameters including the working directory, icon, color scheme, font settings, and the command to be run. Using the drop-down menu or keyboard shortcuts, you can quickly move between the many profiles you've set in Windows Terminal. This enables you to rapidly transition to a certain configuration or command-line environment according to the needs of your current activity or project.

Workspace settings in Visual Studio Code can also be used to set up various configurations. Workspace settings let you alter Visual Studio Code's behavior for particular projects or folders, superseding the global settings. For every workspace, you may select different parameters, including launch configurations, editor preferences, extensions, and more. The integration between Windows and Linux offered by technologies like WSL, Docker on Windows, VS Code with WSL, and the Windows Terminal allows developers to work with a diverse range of tools and applications, bridging the gap between the two operating systems and facilitating cross-platform development.

Pros:

• Customization
• Project-specific Settings
• Streamlined Context Switching
• Consistency and Reproducibility
• Experimentation and Learning

Cons:

• Initial Setup Complexity
• Maintenance Overhead
• Increased Complexity
• Cognitive Load
• Potential for Misconfiguration