microsoft / microsoft/terminal
CMD's `start` command and `Start-Process pwsh` opens all new tabs in new second instance of WT, despite settings
- Dominant language
- C++
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Description
### Windows Terminal version
1.20.11781.0
### Windows build number
10.0.19044.5011
### Other Software
_No response_
### Steps to reproduce
Edit: This can also be done from Powershell using `start-process pwsh` (and likely `start powershell`)
1. Open Windows Terminal with no other instances already running.
2. In that same window, open Command Prompt profile (unless it is your default launch profile)
3. Execute `start` command.
4. Execute `start` command from the same window as step 3.
5. Execute `start` command on the new spawned window from steps 3 or 4.
### Startup settings:

### Expected Behavior
- With step 3, `start` should open a new tab in the same window we just opened.
- With step 4, `start` should open a new tab in the same window we just opened, again.
- With step 5, if executing `start` from a new window, it should open a new tab in that same window.
- If step 3 and 4 go as expected, step 5 shouldn't even exist.
### Actual Behavior
- With step 3, `start` opens a new tab in a new window. (unexpected)
- With step 4, `start` opens a new tab in the same new window opened in step 2. (unexpected)
- With step 5, `start` in the same new window as step 3 opens a new tab in the same new window opened in step 3 (this one works as expected).
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by reproducing the behavior with CMD's `start` command and PowerShell's `Start-Process pwsh` using the listed Windows Terminal and Windows build versions. Trace how these commands choose a terminal window and tab, then verify that each invocation opens a tab in the window where it was run rather than a second instance.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- cpp
- Domain
- cli, operating-systems
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 45/100