Abstract: A system command line interface (CLI) is enhanced by software development tool autoloading functionality. A textual command is routed to a development tool autoloader, which maps the command to a development tool and ascertains whether a conformant version of the tool is installed. If no version is installed, or only a nonconformant version is installed, then the autoloader locates a conformant version and installs it. Then the textual command is forwarded to the installed conformant version for processing. The textual command entered in the CLI is intercepted and routed to the autoloader by a shell alias, or a search path such as an environment variable, or both. Development tool installation conformance is determined using a predefined tool configuration specification. New developers are accordingly freed from research burdens, security risks, and delays otherwise imposed by the lack of a conformant tool version on their systems.

Abstract: An autocompletion feature for a command line interface communicates directly with the shell to obtain candidates to complete a partially-formed CLI command. A terminal emulator generates autocompletion request sequences that are intercepted by a custom shell script integrated with the shell. The custom shell script uses its own autocompletion engine and a CLI command repository with the most current and historical versions of the CLI command structure to obtain autocompletion candidates. In this manner, the shell may be hosted in a remote device or in a separate execution environment without impacting the device hosting the terminal emulator for updates to the CLI command structure.

Abstract: Techniques for expanding capabilities of a computing shell, which exposes services provided by an OS and which is separated from a kernel of the OS, by enabling a command line interface (CLI) of the shell to have context aware capabilities. An event in which a command is entered in the CLI is detected. The CLI displays a command decoration that is selectable and that, when selected, triggers display of a menu comprising a command suggestion. The command suggestion is generated based on a context associated with the command. In response to selection of the command decoration, the menu is displayed. This menu includes the command suggestion. In response to selection of the command suggestion, the computing shell automatically executes the command suggestion.

Abstract: Switching shells attached to a terminal. Suppose that a shell has already output text into the terminal, and at that point a new shell is to be attached to the terminal. That subsequent shell is then started up, and text output is gathered from that new shell. Content representing that new shell is then displayed in the terminal. As an example, if the output is the same for the new shell as it was for the old shell, the terminal can just keep the old output displayed in the terminal, and eliminate the need to also output the identical output from the new shell. If the output of the new shell is different than that of the old shell, the terminal may be refreshed and the new content rendered perhaps in a single frame and/or without displaying text associated with this switching activity.

Abstract: Switching shells attached to a terminal. Suppose that a shell has already output text into the terminal, and at that point a new shell is to be attached to the terminal. That subsequent shell is then started up, and text output is gathered from that new shell. Content representing that new shell is then displayed in the terminal. As an example, if the output is the same for the new shell as it was for the old shell, the terminal can just keep the old output displayed in the terminal, and eliminate the need to also output the identical output from the new shell. If the output of the new shell is different than that of the old shell, the terminal may be refreshed and the new content rendered perhaps in a single frame and/or without displaying text associated with this switching activity.

Abstract: Terminal latency mitigation improves performance of networked consoles by embedding latency mitigation functionality in a terminal emulator. An enhanced terminal reduces perceived and actual delays by accurately predicting responses a remote service will provide to key press data. Latency mitigation may receive key press data, transmit it toward the remote service, locate a prediction, obtain a prediction string from the prediction, and write the prediction string to a display. A prediction indication may visually indicate the presence of a prediction string as opposed to an actual response from the remote service. After writing the prediction string, this terminal compares the response to the prediction string. When the prediction is accurate the terminal shows the prediction string without the prediction indication. When the prediction is inaccurate, the terminal replaces the prediction string by the response.

Abstract: Terminal latency mitigation improves performance of networked consoles by embedding latency mitigation functionality in a terminal emulator. An enhanced terminal reduces perceived and actual delays by accurately predicting responses a remote service will provide to key press data. Latency mitigation may receive key press data, transmit it toward the remote service, locate a prediction, obtain a prediction string from the prediction, and write the prediction string to a display. A prediction indication may visually indicate the presence of a prediction string as opposed to an actual response from the remote service. After writing the prediction string, this terminal compares the response to the prediction string. When the prediction is accurate the terminal shows the prediction string without the prediction indication. When the prediction is inaccurate, the terminal replaces the prediction string by the response.

Abstract: Tools and techniques are described to render oversize glyphs in a monospace grid. Glyph rendering algorithms collect changed cells, collect affected cells based on overlap, clear certain affected cells, and redraw only specified cells. By reducing the number of cells whose glyphs are redrawn in response a text edit, algorithms permit faster execution even when rendering is done by a script rather than precompiled code. Algorithmic advances also permit faster display frame rates, and help preserve battery power. Grids may be numbered, and traversed, in different ways. Oversize glyphs may include underscores, ligatures, mathematical symbols, emojis, kanji, accented characters in various natural languages, and wide or tall text characters which extend beyond the display space of a single cell. Glyph rendering may provide user interface updates in browsers, shells, terminal emulators, and other programs.

Abstract: Tools and techniques are described to render oversize glyphs in a monospace grid. Glyph rendering algorithms collect changed cells, collect affected cells based on overlap, clear certain affected cells, and redraw only specified cells. By reducing the number of cells whose glyphs are redrawn in response a text edit, algorithms permit faster execution even when rendering is done by a script rather than precompiled code. Algorithmic advances also permit faster display frame rates, and help preserve battery power. Grids may be numbered, and traversed, in different ways. Oversize glyphs may include underscores, ligatures, mathematical symbols, emojis, kanji, accented characters in various natural languages, and wide or tall text characters which extend beyond the display space of a single cell. Glyph rendering may provide user interface updates in browsers, shells, terminal emulators, and other programs.