Workspaces, splits and tabs

Workspaces

One project folder per workspace. Background tabs and workspaces keep running. Removing a workspace never deletes files; it only removes the entry and ends its sessions after confirmation. The sidebar count shows running shells only.

Splits and tabs

• Every split pane has its own tab bar, so it can hold several terminals. Drag dividers to resize, or focus a divider with Tab and use the arrow keys.
• Rename a terminal (for example Backend, Tests, Logs) with a double-click or F2. Titles set by the shell never replace a name you chose.
• Drag a tab to reorder it or drop it on another pane's tab bar to move it; its shell keeps running.
• Ctrl+Shift+M maximises a pane; the other panes stay open underneath. Ctrl+Shift+Enter hides both sidebars (focus mode).

PowerShell and WSL

The default shell can be PowerShell 7 (used automatically when installed), Windows PowerShell 5.1, or a WSL distribution. WSL panes start in the Linux path that wslpath reports for the workspace folder. If the folder cannot be mapped, the pane says why and offers an explicit button to start in the home directory; it never silently starts somewhere else. SplitNest never installs or configures WSL.

Short prompts

Long folder paths no longer wrap the prompt: PowerShell shows PS car-rental> instead of the full path, and WSL bash gets PROMPT_DIRTRIM=1. Only the prompt changes; terminal output is never rewritten, and your profile files are not modified. It is on by default and can be turned off in Settings.

Restoring after a restart

Layouts and folders come back after a restart, with nothing running. Each restored terminal shows Ready to start, and Start all shells starts new shells in their saved folders. Previous processes are never resumed and commands are never replayed. Optionally, Settings can start fresh shells automatically.

Workspaces and terminals in the user guide →