Migrate to Derp from VS Code terminal

Derp lets VS Code users choose their own path: keep VS Code for editing and run Derp as the terminal alongside it, or replace both with Derp's built-in code editor. This page walks through reconfiguring your terminal settings for either path.

What Derp can help transfer

Derp doesn't have a VS Code importer because it's a standalone application, not a VS Code extension. Because your VS Code terminal settings live in a readable user settings.json, Derp's Agent can translate matching terminal.integrated.* values into Derp's settings.toml:

{
  "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.osx": "zsh",
  "terminal.integrated.fontFamily": "MesloLGS NF",
  "terminal.integrated.fontSize": 14,
  "terminal.integrated.cursorStyle": "line",
  "terminal.integrated.profiles.osx": {
    "zsh": {
      "path": "zsh"
    }
  }
}

Use Derp's Agent to migrate your settings (recommended)

The fastest way to bring over your VS Code terminal setup is to ask Derp's Agent to translate settings.json directly. Derp ships a settings.toml file and a bundled modify-settings skill that lets the Agent read your existing config and write equivalent values into Derp's settings.

1. In the Derp app, open a new tab and switch to Agent Mode with ⌘+I (macOS) or Ctrl+I (Linux/Windows).

2. Paste this prompt into Agent Mode, then press Enter.

   Read my VS Code settings.json (~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/settings.json on macOS) and port the equivalent terminal settings (terminal.integrated.* keys) into my Derp settings.toml using the modify-settings skill. Show me a diff before applying.

3. Review the proposed diff, then approve the changes. Derp hot-reloads settings.toml.

If you'd rather configure each setting manually through the Settings UI, the steps below cover the most common cases.

What to reconfigure manually

Shell

Derp auto-detects your login shell. To override it, for example, to match terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.*, open Settings > Features > Session in the Derp app and choose a shell from Startup shell for new sessions.

Font and cursor

In the Derp app, open Settings > Appearance > Text, fonts, & cursor, then set the font family and size to match terminal.integrated.fontFamily and terminal.integrated.fontSize.

Theme

VS Code's terminal uses the color scheme from your overall editor theme. In the Derp app, choose a comparable theme from Settings > Appearance > Themes, or create a custom theme that matches your VS Code theme's terminal.* color tokens.

Keybindings

Derp's default keyboard shortcuts are largely consistent with VS Code terminal shortcuts (splits, new tab, find). For any custom bindings you configured in VS Code, add them in Settings > Keyboard shortcuts in the Derp app.

Choosing your setup

Use Derp alongside VS Code

Many developers keep VS Code as their editor and use Derp as the terminal they switch to for long-running commands, SSH sessions, or AI-assisted workflows. You don't need to change VS Code. Install Derp and open it when you want a richer terminal.

VS Code's integrated terminal still works; use it for quick one-off commands, and jump to Derp when you need blocks, Agent Mode, or persistent sessions.

Replace VS Code with Derp

Derp includes a built-in code editor with Language Server Protocol (LSP) support, a file tree, find and replace, and Vim keybindings. Combined with Code Review, many developers use Derp as their primary editor and drop VS Code entirely.

Open a directory with derp . from the command line to start editing.

Derp-native equivalents

Use this table to find Derp equivalents for VS Code terminal features you might look for after switching:

From VS Code terminal	In Derp
Split terminal	Split panes
Multiple terminals (tab strip)	Tabs, vertical tabs
Tasks (tasks.json)	YAML workflows or tab configs
Terminal profiles	Tab configs + per-session shell overrides
Shell integration	Built in via Derpify; enables working-directory tracking and command-level blocks

For an overview of what Derp adds beyond a terminal, see Coding in Derp.