What was announced for developers on Windows at Build 2026?
Summary
Microsoft Copilot announced several Windows developer tools at Build 2026. Key updates include an experimental Intelligent Terminal for agent work, a native container solution using WSL, over 75 command line utilities like grep and tail, and a WinGet configuration for rapid dev machine setup. These tools aim to streamline development workflows on Windows.
Why it matters
Microsoft is enhancing its Windows developer ecosystem with tools that bring Linux-like command line functionality and containerization. The Intelligent Terminal signals a push towards agent-based development workflows, a growing area across AI labs. This benefits developers working on Windows, potentially closing gaps with Linux environments. Competitors like Google and Meta also focus on developer tools, but Microsoft's integration of these utilities directly into Windows is a significant step. Future developments will likely focus on the maturity and adoption of these agent-focused tools.
Related: OpenAI: First impressions of GPT-6 Astra from developers · Google: Scaling Agentic RL: High-Throughput Agentic Training with Tunix · Anthropic: Use dictation in Office agents · Meta: An Organizational Second Brain: Building an AI That Learns From Experts · xAI: Ajeya Cotra – "This might be the clearest warning shot we ever get"
Rated low: routine. Worth knowing, not worth rearranging your day for.
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Questions people ask
- What new terminal is Microsoft introducing?
- Microsoft is introducing an experimental Intelligent Terminal built for working with agents.
- What command line utilities are coming to Windows?
- Over 75 command line utilities, including grep, head, tail, and touch, are coming to Windows.
- How can a developer set up a machine quickly?
- A WinGet configuration file can set up an entire development machine in one pass.
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Page generated Sep 3, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the story belongs to Microsoft Developer on YouTube.