How to disable feature which split window into 2 when run M-x shell

[liuchong]

When I type M-x shell, the window will be splited into 2 windows, but I want it keep one window, as I'm usually use a small size window, if it be splited the windows will too small, so I must type C-x 1 to change it back.
Any one knows that how could I write the configuration to disable this splitting? thanks a lot!

[liuchong]

seems the build-in command "shell" changed from emacs version 24 (pop to same window) to 25 (pop to seprated window), anything I can do on this?

[bmag]

The command shell uses pop-to-buffer. If you have the Emacs source code, you can see it for yourself by running SPC h d f shell to open the function's documentation, and then clicking the link to the function's source.

Because shell calls pop-to-buffer, you can configure its display via display-buffer-alist. Try this:

(push (cons "\\*shell\\*" display-buffer--same-window-action) display-buffer-alist)

For more info, see the documentation for pop-to-buffer, display-buffer, display-buffer-alist and the relevant sections in the Emacs and Elisp manuals (Window-Choice, Choosing-Windows).

[liuchong]

It works, thanks! 👍

[liuchong]

seems it get bad again, while the config "(push (cons ...))" keep as is in .spacemacs/init.el

[bmag]

@liuchong hmm, the behavior shouldn't change unless you changed your config or a package that you use has changed it behavior. You can look at the source of shell and examing the value of display-buffer-alist to try and understand what causes the bad behavior. The display-buffer mechanism is explained in the sources I referred to in my previous comment.

[aa755]

Another possible way: on my computer M-x ansi-term does not split the window (but M-x shell does).