14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is using its Build developer conference this week to introduce a series of new tools for… well… developers, including a brand-new command line app that will be exclusive to Windows 10.
Called Windows Terminal, the new app will integrate the other command line tools, like Command Prompt (cmd), PowerShell, and the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
The purpose of Windows Terminal is pretty clear: Microsoft wants to provide users with a central hub that would serve as the one destination for developers, regardless of the environment they want to work with.
And because Microsoft is all about productivity these days, Windows Terminal will come with a series of benefits versus the other command line apps in Windows 10, including even support for emoji.
To launch as preview next month
Furthermore, the software giant says Windows Terminal will support multiple tabs, a feature that developers will clearly enjoy for added productivity. Themes will also be offered for extra customization power, and further new features are likely to be added in the coming months.
Needless to say, Microsoft has also spent a lot of time on optimizing the power of Windows Terminal under the hood, so the app will be faster for what the software giant calls “file system heavy operations.” Support for running Linux docker containers will be offered with major benefits in terms of speed, Microsoft says.
Like many other major new features, Windows Terminal won’t become available for users overnight, but make its way to Windows 10 gradually.
Microsoft plans to release it to users in the Windows Insider program starting next month. The company hasn’t yet offered an ETA when it should go live for production devices, but there’s a chance the next Windows 10 feature update due in the fall could come with Windows Terminal as a core app.