Unlock Free Shells in Java IDEs: Guide to IntelliJ, Eclipse & NetBeans

Many Java IDEs include built‑in terminal panels, but not all shells are available by default. The following table summarizes which free shells are supported out of the box on a Windows machine:

Command Prompt – IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse; Powershell – IntelliJ IDEA; WSL – IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse; Git Bash – IntelliJ IDEA (via custom path), Eclipse; Cygwin – IntelliJ IDEA, NetBeans; SSH – Eclipse, NetBeans.

IntelliJ IDEA does not list Cygwin and Git Bash by default, but you can add them by specifying a custom shell path in the settings.

Applet Runner – a free IDE plugin

The Applet Runner plugin works with JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, and Apache NetBeans, adding a “Shell” menu that lets you launch the supported shells directly inside the IDE.

Command Prompt

Also known as cmd.exe or MS‑DOS, it is the most common Windows shell and the first shell supported by Applet Runner.

PowerShell

Microsoft’s advanced shell for power users, also available on macOS and Linux (though not yet tested).

WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

Provides a Linux prompt on Windows, useful when your production environment runs on Linux.

Git Bash

Included in the IDE for running Git commands that require a Bash environment.

Cygwin

A Unix‑like Bash for Windows, ideal if you prefer Bash without a full Linux VM.

SSH

Secure Shell for connecting to remote machines.

More Powerful Features – Applet Runner Pro

The professional version adds multi‑applet execution, custom startup parameters via URL query strings, file‑drag‑and‑drop support, and additional UI enhancements.

Run multiple shells side‑by‑side or in split panes.

Override launch parameters through URL queries.

Support file arguments for terminal applets.

Drag files/folders onto the panel to insert full paths.

Customizable background and foreground colors.

Example URL with parameters: https://www.japplis.com/applet-runner/terminal/command-prompt.html?Background=000000&Foreground=00FF00&File=C:\Java

Conclusion

By extending your IDE with additional shells, you can reduce the number of external terminal windows and maintain a smoother workflow while coding.