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Windows Terminal Source Code

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Re: Windows Terminal Source Code

#161

Post by dmurray »

rbanffy wrote: post #40
Bostonian wrote: post #3

Just wondering -- why would Microsoft release the source code for this component of Windows?

Why not? It's not something that gives Windows a competitive edge and it's very unlikely it could be ported to another platform.

It might have vulnerabilities that a motivated attacker could discover by reading the source code. It might contain copied code that Microsoft doesn't have the right to distribute.

Not saying these are good reasons, but in a company whose main products are closed-source software, I'd expect some PM to make these objections.

Re: Windows Terminal Source Code

#162

Post by ossusermivami »

a1369209993 wrote: post #128
ossusermivami wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

as a software dev you know that soft anonymous telemetry of how a user use what you do is very valuable to make decision on how to make things.... I wish there was way everywhere to collect with privacy and being accepted by user as not something we want to spie people on... but as always there is (a lot ) of abuse in this area so this may never going to happen

> as a software dev you know that soft anonymous telemetry of how a user use what you do is very valuable to make decision on how to make things.... No, actually, on account of being a software dev, I know that telemetry is actively counterproductive when making decisions on how to make things. It makes your decisions more wrong, not less.

would you care to explain why is this ?

even as OSS software maker, would you start working on features because they are "cool" or a bunch of people yelling^H^Hasking for it on twitter?

Re: Windows Terminal Source Code

#163

Post by Snowworm »

capableweb wrote: post #159
Genbox wrote: post #45

Note: This is not news of any kind. Windows Terminal has been open source since its first release 3 years ago.

Note: Hacker News is not exclusively for "news" (nor exclusively for "hackers" for that matter).

Yeah. Tbh, I haven't seen any news that would be significant for hackers in particular, the posts are mainly for software Devs.

Re: Windows Terminal Source Code

#164

Post by pjmlp »

kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #155
pjmlp wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are only terminal emulators on UNIX clones. When Windows Terminal is running cmd or Powershell underneath, there is zero emulation going on.

They emulate ANSI control sequences originally intended for dumb terminals and the teletype bell.

Which were never a thing in MS-DOS, Windows, OS/2, Amiga, Atari,...

Re: Windows Terminal Source Code

#165

Post by str3wer »

Snowworm wrote: post #163
capableweb wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Note: Hacker News is not exclusively for "news" (nor exclusively for "hackers" for that matter).

Yeah. Tbh, I haven't seen any news that would be significant for hackers in particular, the posts are mainly for software Devs.

for sure my code is a pile of hacks

Re: Windows Terminal Source Code

#166

Post by justin66 »

dboreham wrote: post #129
justin66 wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They aren't even allowed to look at it. Casey deliberately licensed it as GPL so that Microsoft could not use it, actually. Why does Microsoft prevent its developers from reading GPL-licensed code?

Lawyers concerned in-house code may become virally GPL licensed (I think, it has been a while since I had insight into MS inner workings). Same sort of thing as many/most companies won't allow their employees to look at patents.

> in-house code may become virally GPL licensed

Without reusing any of that code, simply by osmosis? I don't know what the legal theory could be, but is that something that has ever happened in the entire history of the GPL?

Re: Windows Terminal Source Code

#167

Post by briHass »

zamadatix wrote: post #134
briHass wrote: post #113

Though I've been enjoying WT, there are some limitations that have bit me: 1) As a 'Store' app, it can be a pain to install in locked-down corpo networks that block Windows Store. Winget can be a workaround, or you can extract the exe from packages, but an installer would be nice. 2) Since it's a UWP app, there's no way to launch it as another user-identity (i.e. runas)

The GitHub releases section has the msix installer package too. Terminal itself can't be runas but e.g. cmd.exe or pwsh.exe inside of it can be.

How do you get that to work? I've tried changing the settings to open new terminal windows using a different identity (runas), but they are then separate from the terminal app.

I basically would just like to be able to dock that new window in the existing terminal tabs, as otherwise, I might as well just launch a PoSH prompt.

Re: Windows Terminal Source Code

#168

Post by aneutron »

DHowett wrote: post #52
aneutron wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's an excellent blog post by the product manager I believe that explains the history of the CMD command, how terminal emulation works in Windows, and the work they were doing. The way I understand this project is essentially "an interface" to the new ConPTY they developed (which IIRC is closed source, naturally). That doesn't make it any lesser. I've used it since a build was available, 4 years ago or something.…

So, one of the cool things about this repository (Hi! I’m the engineering lead for the Terminal/Console/… team. I’m biased!) is that it also contains the source for ConPTY and the rest of the Windows console host[1]. Every change made here flows back into Windows, and vice-versa. In this repo, you can find some of our terrible secrets and workarounds and debugging hooks and perhaps even some explanation for why thing…

Oh man, my memory must be bad. I remember the conhost.exe and the whole PTY stuff being closed source for some reason. Either way it will make for a very nice rabbit hole for one of those week-ends :D

Thank you and every one of your team members for the excellent work you guys have been doing on this. You have brought so much joy to working and living w/ Windows.

Re: Windows Terminal Source Code

#169

Post by dundarious »

forgotpwd16 wrote: post #154
dundarious wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Casey's somewhat caustic exasperation can be a major distraction at times, especially if you are exposed to it the first time you listen to him. But I have to say, his frustration is justified. He has valid complaints about almost the entire industry and educational system, so it's not just directed at Microsoft, and certainly not just at the individual grunts working there (almost all of use are grunts). I d…

>to create an essentially perfect terminal/console Because they thought terminals are outdated and no one cares about them or/and it isn't a flashy enough addition for marketing.

Casey has shown how few resources it really requires.

Re: Windows Terminal Source Code

#170

Post by dundarious »

turing_complete wrote: post #160
dundarious wrote: post #56

Worth watching Casey Muratori's series of videos on terminals, and how to implement them, where he often makes specific comparison to Windows Terminal. He has some specific criticisms that are easy to disagree with, but the vast majority are well warranted. His broader series of videos on the topic are even worthwhile from a purely "software engineering education" standpoint. https://youtu.be/hxM8QmyZXtg I feel a bit…

You say it's easy to disagree with him, but I've yet to see a well-thought-out argument where he is wrong in this video series. I hope Microsoft will award him an honorary PhD though.

No, I say there are some specific parts that I find easy to disagree with. I strongly agree with the majority of his points, and on I think all the important stuff.

Ha, yes, his impromptu "PhD research project" went quite well.

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