In inkscape-1.4.2-1.fc42, when I'm drawing a rectangle, I'm unable to zoom. This means that I'm unable to precisely choose where to begin and end if I want to draw it without needing to extend it.

I see at alpha.inkscape.org/vectors/www.inkscapeforum.com/viewtopic4b0d.html?t=24120#p83272 someone asking a very similar question:

In the old version I was able to scroll around and zoom in and out using the shift+mouse wheel combo while I was editing\drawing a node with the pen tool. This made it really easy to zoom in, carefully place the node and then zoom out to get the path into the right shape. I've even noticed that when i'm drawing a node point moving my mouse to the edges of the screen no longer moves the drawing area around.

Ctrl key + mouse wheel provides pointer-contexted zoom here. v1.4.2, Win 10.

I don't believe that I see you zooming whilst extending the rectangle in that screencast. I'm aware that Control + the scroll wheel zooms to where the mouse pointer is, but I've yet to ascertain how to combine it with object extension actions. Could multiple key bindings be conflicting in a context-specific manner, perhaps? If I attempt to Control + zoom whilst extending a rectangle, it merely jitters.

I believe that what I desire is possible in at least Adobe Illustrator (2016, and the last CC version of 2021).

I think zooming while simultaneously modifying a shape is only possible by using the plus and minus keys on the keyboard. This zoom will not be pointer contexted.

Thank you: that'll occasionally be useful. I've submitted gitlab.com/inkscape/inbox/-/issues/12418.