Microsoft has introduced Intelligent Terminal, a terminal with integrated artificial intelligence that detects code errors and suggests corrections in real time. The tool is open source, but its use is restricted to Windows. A decision that, while useful for developers in that ecosystem, leaves out Linux and macOS. The question is obvious: why open the code if you don't open it to all systems?
An AI that corrects on the fly, but with an owner 🤖
The technical proposal is solid: the terminal uses language models trained to analyze commands and responses, identifying syntactic or logical errors as you type. Suggestions appear on the same line, without needing to switch windows. The source code is available on GitHub, but the dependencies and the AI engine are tied to Windows APIs. It is not a simple port: it requires rewriting entire integration layers. Microsoft knows this and counts on it.
Open source as bait, Windows as a trap 🔒
The move is as predictable as an infinite loop: they give you the code so you trust them, but they tie the AI to their system so you don't leave. It's like giving away the key to a room that only exists in your house. If you are a Linux developer, you can look at the code, applaud politely, and then go back to your terminal without AI. Microsoft smiles from Redmond while you wonder if it wasn't easier to make it for everyone. Spoiler: yes, but they didn't want to.