Microsoft Releases Windows Terminal 1.0
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Microsoft released Windows Terminal 1.0 in May 2020 as a modern command-line host for PowerShell, Command Prompt, WSL distributions, and other shells.
The application used GPU-accelerated text rendering, supported tabs, Unicode and emoji, customizable key bindings, and a JSON-based configuration system. It was open sourced from the beginning, allowing developers to follow and contribute to its development on GitHub.
Windows Terminal was part of a broader shift in Microsoft’s developer strategy. Windows was increasingly expected to coexist with Linux tools, SSH, containers, Git, and cross-platform development rather than forcing every workflow through traditional Windows-only utilities.