winTerm

Download winTerm v1.0.1

winTerm is an independent open-source terminal application based on Microsoft Windows Terminal.

winTerm is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft. It does not use Microsoft, Windows, or Windows Terminal logos.

Latest stable release

Download the latest verified installer from the GitHub Releases page. The v1.0.1 installer is self-signed rather than signed by a public certificate authority, so Windows does not trust it automatically. Download the .msix, matching .cer, INSTALL.txt, and SHA256SUMS.txt from the same Release, verify the hashes, then follow the included certificate installation steps.

Supported Windows versions

The intended winTerm 1.0 support target is Windows 11 x64. Windows 10 is unsupported for the Stable commitment. ARM64 remains Disabled until a native ARM64 package is built, installed, and launched successfully and is actually attached to a public Release.

Installation

The official installer must:

• be downloaded from the public v1.0.1 Release in this repository;
• be named winTerm-1.0.1-x64.msix;
• match SHA256SUMS.txt;
• have a cryptographically valid signature matching the included winTerm-1.0.1.cer;
• install without Visual Studio, Git, Developer Mode, registry edits, global font installation, or profile modification.

Because the certificate is self-signed, an administrator must import it into the Local Machine Trusted People certificate store before installing the MSIX. See installation guidance.

Screenshots

Release screenshots must be captured from the signed winTerm package after branding and accessibility review. No Microsoft or Windows Terminal screenshot is reused as winTerm promotional artwork. Screenshots are therefore withheld while the Stable gate is blocked.

Core features

• independent HelloThisWorld.winTerm package identity and winterm.exe alias;
• PowerShell 7, Windows PowerShell 5.1, CMD, and dynamic WSL profile foundations;
• conservative Linux-style Safe Compatibility for local PowerShell and CMD;
• built-in and open-source Themes with pinned hashes and license records;
• app-private Cascadia programming fonts;
• ANSI color, CJK, Emoji, multiple windows, tabs, panes, and Command Palette foundations inherited from Microsoft Terminal;
• Workspace Schema version 2, Named Workspaces, restore planning, backups, and crash-recovery foundations;
• transactional edge and corner Docking models, keyboard commands, and Layout Undo/Redo;
• multiline and suspicious-paste protection;
• user-generated redacted diagnostics.

Runtime evidence is tracked in feature status and the compatibility matrix. Runtime Docking, cross-process Pane transfer, Update Check, Git Bash integration, and ARM64 are Disabled.

Privacy

winTerm does not collect command text, terminal output, clipboard content, Workspace contents, working directories, or usage analytics. Crash upload is off and opt-in. Update checks are disabled until explicit consent exists. See PRIVACY.md.

Release status

The exact gate status is recorded in:

• winTerm 1.0 release checklist;
• current progress;
• security review;
• accessibility audit;
• performance validation;
• release notes.

GitHub Actions builds from the exact immutable v1.0.1 Tag, creates a temporary non-exportable self-signed key, verifies the package identity and embedded signature, uploads only allowlisted assets, re-downloads them for verification, and then publishes the Release. It never replaces an existing Release asset.

Build

Use the Microsoft Terminal upstream toolchain described in build guidance. A release build requires PowerShell 7, the supported Visual Studio toolset, Windows SDK 10.0.22621.0, and the repository’s pinned dependencies.

.\scripts\winterm\build.ps1 -Configuration Release -Platform x64 -IncludeTests
.\scripts\winterm\test.ps1 -Suite Relevant -Configuration Release -Platform x64

To build an installable x64 package without a public CA, run the local development wrapper from PowerShell 7:

.\scripts\winterm\build-local-development.ps1 -IncludeTests

It builds and validates Release, creates a disposable self-signed code-signing certificate, signs the MSIX, exports only the public .cer, verifies the package signature and identity, and writes SHA256SUMS.txt under artifacts/local/winTerm-1.0.1-development-x64. The private key is removed after signing.

Before installation, an administrator must import the included .cer into the Local Machine Trusted People certificate store. This package is for local or controlled internal testing; it is not publicly trusted, timestamped, or a Stable release. See build guidance for prerequisites, output files, installation steps, and optional arguments.

License and upstream

winTerm retains the Microsoft Terminal MIT license, copyright notices, and third-party notices. The pinned upstream baseline is release-1.25@1cea42d433253d95c4487a3037db48197b5e72f4.

See LICENSE, NOTICE.md, THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md, and upstream synchronization.