Microsoft's Windows Terminal: This is the final preview of its new command-line tool
by Liam TungMicrosoft's Windows Terminal developers take a leaf from GNU terminal tmux.
Microsoft has released version 0.9 of its open-source command-line tool, Windows Terminal, for developers who use Command Prompt, PowerShell, and the Windows 10 Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
Version 0.9 marks the final preview version before Microsoft releases version 1, which should happen at some point in the first half of 2020. Terminal developers hope to have the command-line app feature complete before March.
Last month's update brought retro CRT screen effects to the application that Microsoft sees as the modern successor to the 30-year-old Windows Console. The company announced Terminal at Build 2019 last May and has been adding new features in monthly updates since its first preview in June last year.
This update brings new command-line arguments, such as the 'wt' execution alias. Users can now launch Terminal with new tabs and split panes, which open with preferred profiles and directories.
Terminal developers point out that the 'wt' design was "heavily inspired by that of the venerable and beloved GNU screen competitor" called tmux, a terminal for Unix-like systems.
"You can wt new-tab, wt split-pane, wt new-tab -p Debian ; split-pane -p PowerShell until your heart's content," says Dustin Howett, an engineer lead at Microsoft.
A full list of available wt command-line options is available on GitHub.
This release also has some goodies for PowerShell Core fans, with Terminal now automatically finding PowerShells on a system.
"The Windows Terminal will now detect any version of PowerShell and automatically create a profile for you," explains Kayla Cinnamon, Windows Terminal program manager.
"The PowerShell version we think looks best (starting from highest version number, to the most GA version, to the best-packaged version) will be named as 'PowerShell' and will take the original PowerShell Core slot in the dropdown."
The last major feature update is the option to close all tabs at once without being asked to confirm. This comes by way of a new global setting that allows users to always hide the 'Close All Tabs' confirmation dialog.
To do this, Terminal users can set 'confirmCloseAllTabs' to true at the top of their profiles.json file.
Image: Microsoft
More on Microsoft's Windows Terminal
Microsoft: New Windows Terminal preview gives you retro CRT screen effects
Microsoft: This new Windows Terminal preview gives you multiple panes
Microsoft: New Windows Terminal update gives you better tabs plus these features
Microsoft: This new Windows Terminal update gives you 'way better settings'
Microsoft: New Windows Terminal update is out and it's 'huge'
Microsoft's new Windows Terminal is now available in the Store
Windows Terminal preview: New customizations offer 'big improvement'
Windows 10 is getting a Microsoft-built Linux kernel
Microsoft Build 2019: Azure is the star, and Windows is a bit player
Chromium-based Edge: What's coming next in Microsoft's open-source browser
Microsoft looks to turn the Web into a more collaborative canvas with Fluid Framework
Azure, Microsoft 365, GitHub: New services unveiled at Build 2019 TechRepublic
Microsoft Build 2019 Day 1: Everything announced and how to replay CNET