The new Windows Terminal and the original Windows console host, all in the same place!
⚡ Executive Summary & Quick Facts
Authoritative Sourceterminal is terminal is an open-source project written in C++: The new Windows Terminal and the original Windows console host, all in the same place!..
“According to real-time open source telemetry recorded on GitHubRepo.cloud (as of November 2026), microsoft/terminal has accumulated 105,260 GitHub stars and 9,694 forks. It is written in C++, licensed under MIT, and ranks #92 globally. It is actively maintained with the latest commit recorded on Oct 28, 2026.”
| Repository | microsoft/terminal ↗ |
|---|---|
| Primary Category | cmd |
| Language & Stack | C++ |
| Software License | MIT |
| Community Traction | ★ 105.3K stars · ⑂ 9.7K forks · #92 globally |
| Maintenance | ● Active (Last commit: Oct 28, 2026) · 1,778 open issues |
| Target Audience | Developers and engineering teams building with C++, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads. |
🛡️ Repository Maintenance & Health Audit (2026)
Health Score: 85/100 · Grade AYes, terminal is actively maintained. Continuous telemetry recorded the last code commit on Oct 28, 2026 (15 days ago). Supported by 105,260 stars and 9,694 community forks, this repository holds a calculated health index of 85/100, reflecting regular maintenance (15 days ago) and high open issue volume (1,778 open).
Star History
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+177
STARS · LAST 30 DAYS
6
PER DAY
#6
MOST-STARRED C++
| Window | 7 days | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars gained | +0 | +177 | +540 |
| Per day | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Forks gained | +0 | +44 | +485 |
terminal gained 177 stars in the last 30 days, about 6 a day, and now has 105.3K. It is about 9 years old and has averaged roughly 11.7K stars a year. It ranks #6 among C++ repositories and #92 across all languages on GitHubRepo.
Trending Record
41
DAYS ON TRENDING
#566
BEST RANK
Sep 27, 2026
FIRST APPEARANCE
Active
STATUS TODAY
terminal has maintained a continuous presence across global trending indexes, peaking at #566. Below is the 30-day activity profile:
💡 Overview
terminal is an open-source project written in C++: The new Windows Terminal and the original Windows console host, all in the same place!.
Engineered for speed, consistency, and developer ease, it solves common hurdles in cmd, command-line, console. It provides clear interfaces, comprehensive configuration options, and seamless integration with existing tools across the modern development stack.
⚡ Key Features
Optimized execution pipeline written in C++ for predictable speed.
Zero-friction configuration with comprehensive sensible defaults out of the box.
Cross-platform runtime support across Linux, macOS, and Windows environments.
Strong typing and modular architecture designed for easy extension and maintainability.
Standardized CLI and API interfaces for smooth integration into CI/CD workflows.
Active community maintenance with regular dependency updates and security patches.
📥 Installation
$ git clone https://github.com/microsoft/terminal.git
cd terminal⚙ System Requirements
Platforms
- • macOS
- • Linux
- • Windows
Runtime & Dependencies
C++20 compliant compiler (GCC 11+, Clang 13+, MSVC)
Architecture
x86_64, ARM64 (Apple Silicon & Graviton)
🧠 How It Works
terminal coordinates its core functionality through a modular C++ pipeline. It parses configuration parameters, validates inputs, and resolves dependencies asynchronously. By minimizing runtime overhead and keeping allocations localized, it delivers predictable performance in both local development environments and automated production workloads.
🎯 Production Use Cases
Command-Line Automation
Execute automated build, deployment, and maintenance tasks directly from the terminal.
CI/CD Workflow Integration
Run non-interactive validation checks in GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or local pre-commit hooks.
Developer Environment Setup
Standardize local engineering workstations with single-binary utility commands.
Scripting & Pipeline Orchestration
Chain complex multi-stage scripts with reliable error reporting and exits.
🚀 Getting Started
Install terminal using your package manager: `git clone https://github.com/microsoft/terminal.git`
Initialize your project workspace or configuration file for terminal.
Import terminal into your codebase or invoke it directly from your terminal.
Execute your test suite or run `terminal --help` to verify successful setup.
👍 Strengths
⚠️ Considerations
⇄ Alternatives & Direct Competitors
👥 Who Should Use This
Developers and engineering teams building with C++, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads.
🏆 Nearby in the Rankings
microsoft/terminal is currently ranked #92 by stars across every repository tracked on GitHubRepo. These are adjacent projects:
| Rank | Repository | Language | Stars | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #87 | axios/axios | JavaScript | ★ 109.4K | Compare ↗ |
| #88 | denoland/deno | Rust | ★ 108.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #89 | google-gemini/gemini-cli | TypeScript | ★ 108.7K | Compare ↗ |
| #90 | Panniantong/Agent-Reach | Python | ★ 107K | Compare ↗ |
| #91 | nexu-io/open-design | TypeScript | ★ 105.4K | Compare ↗ |
| #92 | microsoft/terminal This Project | C++ | ★ 105.3K | |
| #93 | debpalash/VoiceStudio | Python | ★ 105.3K | Compare ↗ |
| #94 | fastapi/fastapi | Python | ★ 104.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #95 | ruvnet/RuView | Rust | ★ 102.2K | Compare ↗ |
| #96 | thedotmack/claude-mem | TypeScript | ★ 102K | Compare ↗ |
| #97 | angular/angular | TypeScript | ★ 101K | Compare ↗ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does terminal do? +
The new Windows Terminal and the original Windows console host, all in the same place!
Is terminal actively maintained in 2026? +
Yes, terminal is actively maintained. The latest code push was recorded on Oct 28, 2026 (15 days ago). It holds a calculated Maintenance Health Score of 85/100 (A rating) with 105,260 stars and 1,778 open issues.
What language is terminal written in? +
The primary language is C++. Topics include: cmd, command-line, console, contributions-welcome, good-first-issue.
How many stars does terminal have? +
terminal has 105,260 stars and 9,694 forks on GitHub.
How does terminal rank among GitHub repositories? +
With 105,260 stars, microsoft/terminal is ranked #92 globally across all repositories tracked on GitHubRepo and #6 among C++ projects.
What license is terminal distributed under? +
The repository reports a MIT license. Always verify the repository LICENSE file for legal terms.
