IntelliJ IDE terminal opens in $HOME instead of project root

Problem

In IntelliJ IDEA, opening a new terminal through the IDE sometimes starts in the $HOME directory instead of the project's root directory, causing user workflow disruption.

Cause

This behavior occurs because the terminal shell process executed when opening a new terminal in the IDE follows instructions in the user's shell configuration file (e.g., ~/.bashrc), which in this case included a command to change the directory to $HOME (cd $HOME).

Resolution

• Locate the shell configuration file that is active in your environment (e.g., ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile).
• Open the file in an editor.
• Find the command responsible for changing the directory to $HOME (cd $HOME).
• Comment out or remove this line if it is not essential for your terminal sessions.

By performing this change, when opening a new terminal within IntelliJ IDEA, it will respect the desired project root directory instead of defaulting to $HOME. Always ensure you review the implications of modifying your shell configuration to avoid unintended side effects.