microsoft / microsoft/WSL

wsl.exe pty setup depends on terminfo entry

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Description

### Windows Version

[Version 10.0.19045.6036]

### WSL Version

2.5.9.0

### Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

- [ ] WSL 2
- [x] WSL 1

### Kernel Version

_No response_

### Distro Version

any

### Other Software

wsl run from a pty-based terminal (like Cygwin Terminal or xterm)

### Repro Steps

Start cmd.exe, navigate into cygwin installation subdirectory bin.
In the cygwin installation, remove /usr/share/terminfo/78/xterm (or rather move it away...).
Run `mintty - `. Or run for example `mintty -o Term=vt420`, after removing _that_ terminfo file.
From the terminal, run `wsl`. Or use `-d` to run any distro.

### Expected Behavior

If run from a pty-based environment, proper pty handling should be set up.
The WSL shell should appear with prompt, control characters should work normally.
There is no reason to depend on terminfo entries for that purpose.

### Actual Behavior

Linux will start (confirm with any command) but there is no prompt.
`stty -a` fails, `tty` says `not a tty`. Apparently the WSL shell is running in non-tty mode.

### Diagnostic Logs

_No response_

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Reproduce the failure by removing /usr/share/terminfo/78/xterm, launching mintty, and running wsl; compare the result with the terminfo entry present. Check stty -a and tty inside WSL, and consider the issue complete when a pty-based launch provides a prompt and normal control-character and tty behavior without that terminfo entry.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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