How to create and manage command aliases in CMD and other terminals step by step

Tired of typing the same long commands over and over again in the Windows console? Learn how to create aliases in CMD and other terminals is one of those skills that, while seemingly minor, can make a difference in your daily work with scripts, repetitive tasks, or even when working with tools like Git. Mastering command aliases in Windows, and extending the idea to other consoles, will make you faster, more efficient, and help you customize your environment to your liking.

This article is yours definitive guide to understand and master creating command aliases in CMD step by step. Not only will you see how they work in Windows, but you'll also have practical examples for classic CMD, PowerShell, Windows Terminal, Git Bash, and even other environments like Linux, Mac, or tools like the AWS CLI and Visual Studio. Ready to save time and stop memorizing impossible paths?

What is a command alias and what is it used for?

An alias, in the context of the command line, is basically a shortcut that links a short word or combination to a longer command (or series of commands). This way, instead of retyping the entire command every time, you can type the alias and achieve the same result, gaining fluency and efficiency.

For example, if every time you enter CMD you have to go to a folder with a very long path, you could create an alias called "proof" that takes you directly there. Or, if you use Git frequently, you could have an alias to check the repository status without having to type git state complete.

Aliases in Classic Windows CMD: Using Doskey

In the classic command prompt (CMD), There is no "official" alias system in the user settings., but you can create temporary or session aliases using the tool Doskey.exe.

Doskey.exe allows you to assign aliases to commands, which makes it easier to perform repetitive tasks. Its basic syntax is:

doskey nombre_alias=comando_a_ejecutar

Practical example: If you want to create an alias experiment To change to a long folder, you would do:

doskey prueba=cd \una_larga_routa\prueba

Now every time you write experiment In that CMD session, the full command will be executed.

Key details about aliases in Doskey:

• Aliases created with Doskey only last as long as the cmd window is open. Once you close it, they disappear.
• You can use parameters with Doskey aliases using $1 through $9, to reference the arguments you pass to the alias.
• All processes (instances) of an executable opened in the same console window share aliases with each other, but they are not shared between different windows.

Making CMD aliases permanent

The main problem with Doskey is that aliases aren't persistent. If you want them to be loaded every time you open CMD, you can do one of the following:

• Create a batch file (e.g. alias.cmd) where you put all your doskey commands.
• Then, create a shortcut to cmd.exe adding at the end of your batch file:

cmd.exe /k "ruta_completa\alias.cmd"

This way, every time you open CMD from that shortcut, all your aliases will be loaded automatically.

Advanced Console Aliases: Functions and Aliases in PowerShell and Windows Terminal

Many Windows users have made the jump to PowerShell or use Windows TerminalIn these environments, alias customization is much more powerful and flexible.

Where are aliases stored in PowerShell?

Your aliases and custom functions can be permanently saved in the file PowerShell profile, which runs every time you open the terminal.

• To find out where your profile is:

echo $PROFILE

• Open the file with:

notepad $PROFILE

• If the file or folder does not exist, create it before editing.

Creating aliases in PowerShell

You can create simple or complex aliases (that execute functions). Here are some examples:

• Alias ​​for a function (e.g., say “Hello World”):

function HelloWorld { echo "Hola Mundo" }
New-Alias hello HelloWorld

• Alias ​​to go to a specific folder:

function GoDevelop { Set-Location D:\develop }
New-Alias dev GoDevelop

• Aliases for running Git commands with parameters (e.g., commit with message):

function GitCommit($message) { git commit -m "$message" }
New-Alias gcmt GitCommit

• Aliases for commands with multiple parameters:

function GitPush($remote, $branch) { git push $remote $branch }
New-Alias gpsh GitPush

Beware of execution permits!

If you see errors when loading the profile, you may need to change the script execution policy. Open it as an administrator and run:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

Allows execution of local and signed scripts.

Checking for existing aliases in PowerShell

Windows already has several built-in aliases. If you have questions or encounter a conflict, check the existing ones with:

Get-Alias

Aliases in Git Bash, Linux and Mac: The .bashrc File

If you usually work with Git Bash on Windows, or on Linux or Mac systems, aliases are managed through the file .bashrc in your user's home directory.

Basic steps to manage aliases in .bashrc:

1. Edit your .bashrc file (vi ~ / .bashrc or your favorite editor).
2. Add your aliases in the format:

alias s='git status'
alias d='git diff'
alias home='cd ~/'
alias vu='vagrant up'

3. Save the changes and run:

source ~/.bashrc

This way, all your aliases will be available whenever you open a new Bash terminal.

On Windows, if you are using Git Bash and .bashrc doesn't exist, create it with touch ~/.bashrc. Then follow the same steps as above.

Aliases in Visual Studio: Developer Productivity

If you work with Visual Studio, within the IDE command window you can define aliases with the instruction alias:

• Visual Studio has a wide range of predefined aliases. For example, you can use >of instead of >File.OpenFile.
• You can view existing aliases by typing alias in the command window.
• To create your own, use the syntax:

alias MiAlias ComandoCompleto 

And to remove it:

alias MiAlias /delete

This feature is very useful for advanced users or those who work extensively with macros and automation within the Visual Studio environment.

Aliases in AWS CLI: Automate tasks in the cloud

The AWS CLI console allows you to configure aliases to save time and avoid typing long, repetitive commands. The basic procedure for working with aliases in the AWS CLI is:

1. Create the alias file:

mkdir -p ~/.aws/cli
# Linux/Mac
echo '' > ~/.aws/cli/alias
# Windows
md %USERPROFILE%\.aws\cli
echo  > %USERPROFILE%\.aws\cli\alias

2. Edit the alias file adding lines like:

whoami = sts get-caller-identity
whoami2 = sts get-caller-identity --query Account --output text

3. Aliases for subcommands:

regions = describe-regions --query Regions[].RegionName

You can even create aliases that run complete bash scripts, as explained in the official documentation for tools to automate tasks in Windows.

And, to call an alias, simply:

aws whoami
aws ec2 regions

This allows for an additional layer of advanced customization, which is very useful for DevOps teams or cloud system administrators.

Git Aliases: Customize Your Workflow

Git allows you to create your own aliases to transform long commands into shorter, more convenient versions. For example:

git config --global alias.co checkout

Thus, you will be able to execute git co branchname instead of the full command. This philosophy can be applied to almost any common Git command, speeding up workflows considerably. Additionally, learning how to manage these aliases can help you delve deeper into using tools to automate tasks in Windows.

Some examples of useful aliases in real life

• Aliases for quick navigation between folders: giant to go directly to the development folder.
• home to go to the user's home directory.
• Git Shortcuts: gs to git state, ga to git add, gcmt to commit with message, gpsh to push to a specified remote and branch.
• Compound aliases: You can create functions that receive arguments, query the system, or execute more advanced scripts.

Best practices and common problems when creating aliases

• Avoid overwriting essential system aliases or commands. Always check with listing commands (like Get-Aliases in PowerShell or alias in bash) before installing a new one.
• Document your aliases for you and your colleagues, especially if you are going to share them in work environments.
• Use intuitive and short alias namesIdeally, you should just write them down, without thinking about it.
• If you automate the loading of your aliases with configuration files, remember to make backup copies. in case you need to migrate equipment or restore your environment.

Command aliases, whether in CMD, PowerShell, Bash, AWS CLI, or Git, are a fundamental tool for those who want to save time and customize their terminal as much as possible. Learning to create and manage them correctly allows you to work more comfortably and efficiently, and brings order and flexibility to your daily work at the console. Spend some time defining your favorite shortcuts, automate their loading when you open the terminal, and you'll see how, little by little, your productivity takes off. If you have questions or are looking for ideas, the official documentation and community for each tool are the best place to find inspiration and continue learning.