How To Start gnome-terminal at a Specific Directory

In this article, we will be exploring various methods on how to start the gnome-terminal at a specific directory. This can be particularly useful if you find yourself working within a specific directory frequently. By implementing these methods, you can save time and increase your productivity.

Method 1: Using the –working-directory Option

The simplest and most straightforward method to start gnome-terminal at a specific directory is by using the --working-directory option followed by the desired directory path. Here’s how to do it:

gnome-terminal --working-directory=/path/to/dir

In this command, --working-directory is an option that instructs gnome-terminal to start in a specified directory. Replace /path/to/dir with the actual directory path you want to start the terminal in.

For instance, if you want to start the terminal in the Documents directory of the user ‘user’, the command would be:

gnome-terminal --working-directory=/home/user/Documents

Method 2: Modifying the ~/.bashrc File

Another method is to add a line to the ~/.bashrc file. The ~/.bashrc file is a shell script that Bash runs whenever it is started interactively. By adding a command to this file, we can set a specific directory that the terminal will start in each time it’s opened. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the ~/.bashrc file in a text editor. You can use any text editor you prefer, but for this example, we’ll use nano:

nano ~/.bashrc

2. Scroll to the end of the file and add the line cd /path/to/dir. The cd command changes the current directory in Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.
3. Replace /path/to/dir with the desired directory path.
4. Save the file and exit. If you’re using nano, you can do this by pressing Ctrl+X, then Y to confirm that you want to save the changes, and then Enter to confirm the file name.

Now, every time you open a new terminal, it will automatically start in the specified directory.

Method 3: Creating a Custom Shortcut

The third method is to create a custom shortcut that opens gnome-terminal at a specific directory. This can be especially useful if you frequently work in different directories and want to create multiple shortcuts for each one. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the system settings and navigate to the keyboard shortcuts section.
2. Click on the ‘+’ button to create a new custom shortcut.
3. Set the command as gnome-terminal --working-directory=/path/to/dir, replacing /path/to/dir with the desired directory path.
4. Assign a shortcut key combination to the custom shortcut. This could be any key combination that’s not already in use. For instance, you could use Ctrl+Alt+T.

Now, you can open a terminal at the specified directory by pressing the assigned shortcut keys.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve covered three different methods to start gnome-terminal at a specific directory. Whether you choose to use the --working-directory option, modify the ~/.bashrc file, or create a custom shortcut, depends on your specific needs and workflow. By utilizing these methods, you can streamline your workflow and make your terminal usage more efficient.