How to change terminal inside JupyterLab on Windows?

[haesleinhuepf]

Description

Hi all,

I'm rather new to Jupyter lab, locally installed as Desktop app. The terminal is typically quite powerful, but not here. First of all I'm wondering how to change the "default" cmd (which is powershell on my Windows) to a normal CMD. Furthermore, its PATH is obvidoulsy not configured. The user can't execute python from the terminal (and one cannot read python, because its orange):

Reproduce

• Download Jupyterlab Version 3.1.18-1.
• Install it on Windows with default configuration.
• Start JupyterLab
• Start a Terminal
• Enter "python".

You will see the error above. Btw, also pip install fails

Expected behavior

I'm expcting it runs python.

Context

• Operating System and version: Windows 10 20h2
• JupyterLab-Desktop version: 3.1.18-1
• Installer: JupyterLab-Setup-Windows.exe

Troubleshoot Output

PS C:\Users\rober> jupyter troubleshoot
jupyter : The term 'jupyter' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check 
the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:1
+ jupyter troubleshoot
+ ~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (jupyter:String) [], CommandNotFoundException        
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

Browser Output

Go to Help menu -> Open Developer Console to access the JavaScript console

There is no such menu:

[JasonWeill]

@mbektas This came up again in #643, which @yuliaUU opened. I don't see powershell mentioned in the code; is there a workaround or fix for this?

[RRosio]

I found this potential work-around for the time-being, which mentions setting a $SHELL environment variable. I'm not sure it is applicable to JupyterLab-Desktop but it might be worth a try.

[krassowski]

If you have a different shell installed you should be able to use it by customising the --ServerApp.terminado_settings traitlet, entering it with a correct path under "Settings" (under hamburger menu in top-right corner of the window bar) → "Server" tab → "Additional JupyterLab Server launch args":

Examples of valid arguments:

--ServerApp.terminado_settings="shell_command=['/bin/zsh']"

--ServerApp.terminado_settings="shell_command='/bin/zsh'"

This requires an up-to-date jupyter-server including jupyter-server/jupyter_server#949 (so v2.0+) - if you are using a custom environment it may not work

[yuliaUU]

I wonder if anyone know the fix for this for JupyterLab Desktop?

[mbektas]

@haesleinhuepf @yuliaUU did you try the suggestion from @krassowski above? setting the addtional launch args as --ServerApp.terminado_settings="shell_command=['C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe']" worked for me on Win 11.

[yuliaUU]

@mbektas I am not sure where I should add it to in Jupyter Lab Desktop app

[krassowski]

@yuliaUU @haesleinhuepf please see Configuring JupyterLab Server launch > Server Launch Arguments section of the user guide.

[yuliaUU]

@krassowski thanks, that worked

[mbektas]

resolved