README.md

@@ -18,9 +18,40 @@ WSLtty components
 
 ---
 
-### Requirements ###
+### Launching WSL ###
 
-To connect to WSL, wsltty uses wslbridge2, which uses undocumented 
+Since wsltty 3.8.0, mintty launches WSL using the native Windows launcher 
+gateway `wsl.exe` by default.
+Proper display in certain cases depends on an up-to-date version of the 
+Windows conpty layer. Its version currently deployed with Windows has 
+unfortunately still some problems. There are two ways to fix this:
+* Revert to the previous launching method for now. The problem is that 
+  this way of launching WSL does not appear to work on some users’ systems.
+  For this solution, configure this in config file `%APPDATA%/wsltty/config`.
+  `WSLbridge=2`
+* Update the Windows conpty layer manually, by replacing 
+  `%SYSTEMROOT%/System32/conhost.exe` following the instructions in the 
+  [mintty wiki, section Interaction with WSL](https://github.com/mintty/mintty/wiki/Tips#interaction-with-wsl-and-other-windows-programs).
+
+#### Launcher and display interworking background ####
+
+The approach to use wsl.exe directly used to fail because the 
+_conhost_ layer hooked into the workflow used to obstruct transparent 
+terminal operation in multiple ways.
+
+The _conhost_ layer has meanwhile been modernised, including the _conpty_ 
+layer, and its enforced detour through the Windows console API has 
+been dropped, in the course of the Windows Terminal project.
+The new _conhost_, however, has not yet been deployed with Windows 
+(as of summer 2025) and will probably not be deployed with Windows 10 anymore.
+So in order to get fully transparent terminal interaction between WSL 
+and wsltty, the updated _conhost_ needs to be patched into Windows 
+manually, following the instructions linked above, 
+to patch OpenConsole into your Windows as conhost replacement.
+
+#### The wslbridge approach ####
+
+To connect to WSL, wsltty used wslbridge2, which uses undocumented 
 Windows APIs that have been changed various times, so wslbridge2 needed 
 to catch up with incompatible changes, particularly to support WSL V2.
 (See e.g. issue #343; to work with WSL V2, wsltty 2.0.0 needed a WSL update 
@@ -30,6 +61,12 @@ Since release 3.0.5, WSLtty requires Windows version 1809 (the November 2018 rel
 
 By end of 2024, wsltty works again with recent updates of the WSL subsystem.
 
+Configuration option `WSLbridge=2` switches back to the previous 
+wslbridge launching approach; the wslbridge2 gateway is still deployed 
+with wsltty for that matter. (If for a very old Windows 10 version you 
+still need the original wslbridge gateway, set `WSLbridge=1` and 
+deploy it manually.)
+
 ---
 
 ### Installation from this repository ###
@@ -114,14 +151,6 @@ invoke one of
 * `winget install wsltty`
 * `winget upgrade wsltty`
 
-#### Chocolatey ####
-
-([Check package](https://community.chocolatey.org/packages/wsltty))
-If you use the [Chocolatey package manager](https://chocolatey.org/), 
-invoke one of
-* `choco install wsltty`
-* `choco upgrade wsltty`
-
 #### Scoop ####
 
 ([Check package](https://scoop.sh/#/apps?q=wsltty))
@@ -132,6 +161,14 @@ then, invoke one of
 * `scoop install wsltty`
 * `scoop update wsltty`
 
+#### Chocolatey ####
+
+([Check package](https://community.chocolatey.org/packages/wsltty))
+If you use the [Chocolatey package manager](https://chocolatey.org/), 
+invoke one of
+* `choco install wsltty`
+* `choco upgrade wsltty`
+
 ### Uninstallation ###
 
 To uninstall wsltty desktop, start menu, and context menu integration:
@@ -218,6 +255,8 @@ WSLtty installs the following scripts into `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps
 * For each installed WSL distribution, e.g. Ubuntu, a command script like `Ubuntu~.bat` to start in the WSL user home
 * `WSL.bat` and `WSL~.bat` to start the default WSL distribution
 
+The scripts accept an optional invocation command (since 3.7.8).
+
 Given that `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps` is in your PATH,
 the scripts can be invoked from cmd.exe, PowerShell, or via WIN+R.
 
@@ -330,13 +369,13 @@ the [Mintty manual page](http://mintty.github.io/mintty.1.html),
 including a [Hints and Tips page](https://github.com/mintty/mintty/wiki/Tips).
 
 It is based on [Cygwin](http://cygwin.com) 
-and includes its runtime library ([sources](http://mirrors.dotsrc.org/cygwin/x86/release/cygwin)).
+and includes its runtime library ([sources](http://mirrors.dotsrc.org/cygwin/x86_64/release/cygwin)).
 
 For interacting with WSL, [wslbridge](https://github.com/rprichard/wslbridge)
 used to be the gateway prototype.
 Many thanks for this enabling gateway go to Ryan Prichard.
 
-For recent changes in WSL, particularly WSL mode V2, the new gateway 
-[wslbridge2](https://github.com/Biswa96/wslbridge2) is used instead.
+For later changes in WSL, particularly WSL mode V2, the new gateway 
+[wslbridge2](https://github.com/Biswa96/wslbridge2) was used instead.
 Many thanks for this further development and maintenance go to Biswapriyo Nath.
 

VERSION

@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.7.7
+3.8.0.3

config-distros.sh

@@ -155,17 +155,40 @@ regtool () {
 }
 fi
 
-
-if $config
-then while read line; do echo "$line"; done <</EOB > mkbat.bat
-@echo off
-echo Creating %1.bat
-
-echo @echo off> %1.bat
-echo rem Start mintty terminal for WSL package %name% in current directory>> %1.bat
-echo %target% -i "%icon%" %minttyargs% %bridgeargs% %%*>> %1.bat
-/EOB
-fi
+mkbat () {
+	echo Creating "$1.bat"
+	while read line; do echo "$line"; done <<-\/EOB > "$1".bat
+	@echo off
+	rem Start mintty terminal for WSL
+	
+	rem get basename of this script file,
+	rem use it to select WSL distribution and homedir flag
+	set dist=%~n0
+	
+	rem start in current directory
+	set cdir=
+	rem if script name ends with ~, extract WSL distribution and param -~
+	if "%dist:~-1%" == "~" set cdir=-~ && set dist=%dist:~0,-1%
+	rem map WSL default distribution
+	if "%dist%" == "WSL" set dist=
+	
+	rem check if we have an explicit -d DIST parameter
+	if "%1" == "-d" set dist=%2 && shift && shift
+	
+	chcp 65001 > nul:
+	
+	if "%1" == "" goto login
+	
+	:cmd
+	"%LOCALAPPDATA%/wsltty/bin/mintty.exe" -i "%LOCALAPPDATA%/wsltty/wsl.ico" --WSL="%dist%" --configdir="%APPDATA%/wsltty" %cdir% %*
+	goto end
+	
+	:login
+	"%LOCALAPPDATA%/wsltty/bin/mintty.exe" -i "%LOCALAPPDATA%/wsltty/wsl.ico" --WSL="%dist%" --configdir="%APPDATA%/wsltty" %cdir% -
+	
+	:end
+	/EOB
+}
 
 if $custominst && $config && ! $remove
 then
@@ -302,7 +325,7 @@ config () {
 
   if $ok && ! $remove && [ -n "$distro" ]
   then	# fix #163: backend missing +x with certain mount options
-	echo Setting +x wslbridge2 backends for distro "'$distro'"
+	echo Setting +x wslbridge2 backend for distro "'$distro'"
 	(cd "$INSTDIR"; cd bin; PATH="${WINDIR}/Sysnative:${PATH}" wsl.exe -d "$distro" chmod +x wslbridge2-backend)
 #	(cd "$LOCALAPPDATA/wsltty/bin"; wsl.exe -d "$distro" chmod +x wslbridge2-backend)
 #	(cd ... ; "$SYSTEMROOT/System32/bash.exe" "$guid" -c chmod +x wslbridge2-backend)
@@ -366,7 +389,8 @@ config () {
         copy "$name Terminal %.lnk" "$APPDATA\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\WSLtty"
 
         # launch script in . -> WSLtty home, WindowsApps launch folder
-        cmd /C mkbat.bat "$name"
+        #cmd /C mkbat.bat "$name"
+        mkbat "$name"
         copy "$name.bat" "$LOCALAPPDATA\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps"
 
         # store backup copies in installation dir
@@ -402,7 +426,8 @@ config () {
         fi
 
         # launch script in ~ -> WSLtty home, WindowsApps launch folder
-        cmd /C mkbat.bat "$name~"
+        #cmd /C mkbat.bat "$name~"
+        mkbat "$name~"
         copy "$name~.bat" "$LOCALAPPDATA\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps"
 
         # store backup copies in installation dir

install.bat

@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@ copy mintty.ico "%installdir%\usr\share\mintty\icon"
 mkdir "%installdir%\usr\share\mintty\emojis" 2> nul:
 copy getemojis "%installdir%\usr\share\mintty\emojis" 2> nul:
 copy getflags "%installdir%\usr\share\mintty\emojis" 2> nul:
+mkdir "%installdir%\usr\share\terminfo" 2> nul:
+copy terminfo.zoo "%installdir%\usr\share\terminfo"
 
 
 rem create Start Menu Folder
@@ -122,6 +124,8 @@ cd /D "%installdir%\usr\share\mintty\themes"
 "%installdir%\bin\zoo" xO themes
 cd /D "%installdir%\usr\share\mintty\sounds"
 "%installdir%\bin\zoo" xO sounds
+cd /D "%installdir%\usr\share\terminfo"
+"%installdir%\bin\zoo" xO terminfo
 cd /D "%installdir%"
 
 
@@ -151,6 +155,24 @@ mkdir "%configdir%\emojis" 2> nul:
 copy "%installdir%\usr\share\mintty\emojis\getemojis" "%configdir%\emojis" 2> nul:
 copy "%installdir%\usr\share\mintty\emojis\getflags" "%configdir%\emojis" 2> nul:
 
+goto noetc
+rem 3.8.0.2: create global config file for troubleshooting
+mkdir "%installdir%\etc" 2> nul:
+echo ###########################>"%installdir%\etc\minttyrc"
+echo # Troubleshooting>>"%installdir%\etc\minttyrc"
+echo # To work around a pty interworking issue between wsl and cygwin,>>"%installdir%\etc\minttyrc"
+echo # we need to apply this configuration for now:>>"%installdir%\etc\minttyrc"
+echo Baud=999999>>"%installdir%\etc\minttyrc"
+goto etcok
+
+:noetc
+rem 3.8.0.3: remove previous troubleshooting patch
+if exist "%installdir%\etc\minttyrc" del "%installdir%\etc\minttyrc"
+if exist "%installdir%\etc" rmdir "%installdir%\etc"
+
+:etcok
+
+
 rem create config file if it does not yet exist
 if exist "%configdir%\config" goto appconfig
 echo # To use common configuration in %%APPDATA%%\mintty, simply remove this file>"%configdir%\config"

makefile

@@ -9,20 +9,18 @@
 # make wsltty	build the software, using the local copy of mintty
 
 
-# wsltty release
-ver=3.7.7
-
-# wsltty appx release - must have 4 parts!
-verx=3.7.7.1
-
-
 ##############################
-# mintty release version
+# mintty and wsltty release versions
+wslttyver=3.8.0.3
 
-minttyver=3.7.7
+minttyver=3.8.0
 
 minrepo=git@github.com:mintty/mintty.git
 
+##############################
+# wsltty appx release (obsolete) - must have 4 parts!
+appxver=$(wslttyver).1
+
 ##############################
 
 # wslbridge2 repository and release version
@@ -131,14 +129,14 @@ checkarch:
 #############################################################################
 # patch version information for appx package configuration
 
-fix-verx:
+fix-appxver:
 	echo patching $(WINSDKVER) into Launcher config
 	cd Launcher; sed -i~ -e "/<supportedRuntime / s,Version=v[.0-9]*,Version=$(WINSDKVER)," app.config
 	echo patched app.config
 	cd Launcher; sed -i~ -e "/<TargetFrameworkVersion>/ s,v[.0-9]*,$(WINSDKVER)," Launcher.csproj
 	echo patched Launcher.csproj
-	echo patching $(verx) into app config
-	sed -i~ -e '/<Identity / s,Version="[.0-9]*",Version="$(verx)",' AppxManifest.xml
+	echo patching $(appxver) into app config
+	sed -i~ -e '/<Identity / s,Version="[.0-9]*",Version="$(appxver)",' AppxManifest.xml
 	echo patched AppxManifest.xml
 
 #############################################################################
@@ -207,8 +205,8 @@ mintty-git:
 
 wslbuild=LDFLAGS="-static -static-libgcc -s"
 appxbuild=$(wslbuild) CCOPT=-DWSLTTY_APPX
-wslversion=VERSION_SUFFIX="– wsltty $(ver)" WSLTTY_VERSION="$(ver)"
-appxversion=VERSION_SUFFIX="– wsltty appx $(verx)" WSLTTY_VERSION="$(verx)"
+wslversion=VERSION_SUFFIX="– wsltty $(wslttyver)" WSLTTY_VERSION="$(wslttyver)"
+appxversion=VERSION_SUFFIX="– wsltty appx $(appxver)" WSLTTY_VERSION="$(appxver)"
 
 mintty-build:
 	# ensure rebuild of version-specific check and message
@@ -229,11 +227,18 @@ mintty-build-appx:
 	cp mintty-$(minttyver)/bin/mintty.exe bin/
 	strip bin/mintty.exe
 
+terminfoxt=78/xterm 78/xterm-vt220 78/xterm-256color 78/xterm-direct
+terminfovt=76/vt100 76/vt220 76/vt340 76/vt420 76/vt525
+terminfomt=6d/mintty 6d/mintty-direct
+terminfo=$(terminfoxt) $(terminfovt) $(terminfomt)
+
 mintty-pkg:
 	cp mintty-$(minttyver)/LICENSE LICENSE.mintty
 	cd mintty-$(minttyver)/lang; zoo a lang *.po; mv lang.zoo ../../
 	cd mintty-$(minttyver)/themes; zoo a themes *[!~]; mv themes.zoo ../../
 	cd mintty-$(minttyver)/sounds; zoo a sounds *.wav *.WAV *.md; mv sounds.zoo ../../
+	cd /usr/share/terminfo; zoo a /tmp/terminfo $(terminfo)
+	mv /tmp/terminfo.zoo .
 	# add charnames.txt to support "Character Info"
 	cd mintty-$(minttyver)/src; sh ./mknames
 	cp mintty-$(minttyver)/src/charnames.txt .
@@ -272,7 +277,7 @@ appx-bin:
 	cp /bin/cygwin1.dll bin/
 	cp /bin/cygwin-console-helper.exe bin/
 
-CAB=wsltty-$(ver)-$(arch)
+CAB=wsltty-$(wslttyver)-$(arch)
 
 copcab:	ver
 	mkdir -p $(CAB)
@@ -285,6 +290,7 @@ copcab:	ver
 	cp lang.zoo $(CAB)/
 	cp themes.zoo $(CAB)/
 	cp sounds.zoo $(CAB)/
+	cp terminfo.zoo $(CAB)/
 	cp charnames.txt $(CAB)/
 	cp bin/wslbridge2.exe $(CAB)/
 	cp bin/wslbridge2-backend $(CAB)/
@@ -316,16 +322,16 @@ cab:
 normal-installer:
 	# prepare build of installer
 	rm -f rel/$(CAB)-install.exe
-	sed -e "s,%version%,$(ver)," -e "s,%arch%,$(arch)," makewinx.cfg > rel/wsltty.SED
+	sed -e "s,%version%,$(wslttyver)," -e "s,%arch%,$(arch)," makewinx.cfg > rel/wsltty.SED
 	# build installer
-	cd rel; iexpress /n wsltty.SED
+	cd rel; iexpress /n /q wsltty.SED
 
 silent-installer:
 	# prepare build of installer
 	rm -f rel/$(CAB)-install-quiet.exe
 	cd rel; sed -e "/ShowInstallProgramWindow/ s/0/1/" -e "/HideExtractAnimation/ s/0/1/" -e "/InstallPrompt/ s/=.*/=/" -e "/FinishMessage/ s/=.*/=/" -e "/TargetName/ s/install.exe/install-quiet.exe/" wsltty.SED > wsltty-quiet.SED
 	# build installer
-	cd rel; iexpress /n wsltty-quiet.SED
+	cd rel; iexpress /n /q wsltty-quiet.SED
 
 InstallPrompt=Install Mintty terminal for WSL Portable?
 FinishMessage=Mintty for WSL Portable installation finished
@@ -335,7 +341,7 @@ portable-installer:
 	rm -f rel/$(CAB)-install-portable.exe
 	cd rel; sed -e "/InstallPrompt/ s/=.*/=$(InstallPrompt)/" -e "/FinishMessage/ s/=.*/=$(FinishMessage)/" -e "/AppLaunched/ s/install/install-portable/" -e "/TargetName/ s/install.exe/install-portable.exe/" wsltty.SED > wsltty-portable.SED
 	# build installer
-	cd rel; iexpress /n wsltty-portable.SED
+	cd rel; iexpress /n /q wsltty-portable.SED
 
 install:	cop installbat
 
@@ -343,7 +349,7 @@ installbat:
 	cd rel; cmd /C install
 
 ver:
-	echo $(ver) > VERSION
+	echo $(wslttyver) > VERSION
 
 mintty:	mintty-get mintty-build
 
@@ -362,7 +368,7 @@ pkg:	wslbridge cygwin mintty-get mintty-build mintty-pkg installer
 wsltty-appx:	wslbridge appx-bin mintty-get mintty-build-appx mintty-appx
 
 # appx package target:
-appx:	wsltty-appx fix-verx
+appx:	wsltty-appx fix-appxver
 	sh ./build.sh
 
 #############################################################################

makewinx.cfg

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [Version]
-Class=IEXPRESS
+Class=IExpress
 SEDVersion=3
 
 [Options]
@@ -32,71 +32,41 @@ AppLaunched=cmd.exe /c install.bat
 PostInstallCmd=<None>
 AdminQuietInstCmd=
 UserQuietInstCmd=
-FILE0="cygwin1.dll"
-FILE1="cygwin-console-helper.exe"
-FILE2="mintty.exe"
-FILE3="wslbridge2.exe"
-FILE4="wslbridge2-backend"
-FILE5="LICENSE.mintty"
-FILE6="LICENSE.wslbridge2"
-FILE7="config-distros.sh"
-FILE8="configure WSL shortcuts.lnk"
-FILE9="charnames.txt"
-FILE10="VERSION"
-FILE11="dash.exe"
-FILE12="regtool.exe"
-FILE13="install.bat"
-FILE14="uninstall.bat"
-FILE15="tux.ico"
-FILE16="add to context menu.lnk"
-FILE17="add default to context menu.lnk"
-FILE18="remove from context menu.lnk"
-FILE19="wsltty home & help.url"
-FILE20="zoo.exe"
-FILE21="lang.zoo"
-FILE22="themes.zoo"
-FILE23="sounds.zoo"
-FILE24="mintty.ico"
-FILE25="mkshortcut.vbs"
-FILE26="dequote.bat"
-FILE27="cmd2.bat"
-FILE28="install-portable.bat"
-FILE29="getemojis"
-FILE30="getflags"
 
 [SourceFiles]
 SourceFiles0=.
 
 [SourceFiles0]
-%FILE0%=
-%FILE1%=
-%FILE2%=
-%FILE3%=
-%FILE4%=
-%FILE5%=
-%FILE6%=
-%FILE7%=
-%FILE8%=
-%FILE9%=
-%FILE10%=
-%FILE11%=
-%FILE12%=
-%FILE13%=
-%FILE14%=
-%FILE15%=
-%FILE16%=
-%FILE17%=
-%FILE18%=
-%FILE19%=
-%FILE20%=
-%FILE21%=
-%FILE22%=
-%FILE23%=
-%FILE24%=
-%FILE25%=
-%FILE26%=
-%FILE27%=
-%FILE28%=
-%FILE29%=
-%FILE30%=
+cygwin1.dll=
+cygwin-console-helper.exe=
+mintty.exe=
+wslbridge2.exe=
+wslbridge2-backend=
+LICENSE.mintty=
+LICENSE.wslbridge2=
+config-distros.sh=
+configure WSL shortcuts.lnk=
+charnames.txt=
+VERSION=
+dash.exe=
+regtool.exe=
+install.bat=
+uninstall.bat=
+tux.ico=
+add to context menu.lnk=
+add default to context menu.lnk=
+remove from context menu.lnk=
+wsltty home & help.url=
+zoo.exe=
+lang.zoo=
+themes.zoo=
+sounds.zoo=
+terminfo.zoo=
+mintty.ico=
+mkshortcut.vbs=
+dequote.bat=
+cmd2.bat=
+install-portable.bat=
+getemojis=
+getflags=