Providing contextual actions in command line interfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12360788-B2
Application number	US-202418663378-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2024
Priority date	Mar 25, 2022
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for enabling a command line interface (CLI) of a shell to have context aware capabilities, said method comprising:
detecting an event in which a command is entered in the CLI;
displaying, proximately to a line in the CLI where new text is enterable in a character grid of the CLI and in a border region that is outside of the character grid, a command decoration that is selectable and that, when selected, triggers display of a menu comprising a command suggestion, wherein:
the command suggestion is generated based on the command,
the border region is an outer peripheral region of a window of the character grid of the CLI, and
an entirety of the command decoration is displayed within the border region;

detecting selection of the command decoration;
displaying the menu comprising the command suggestion; and
in response to selection of the command suggestion, causing the shell to execute the command suggestion.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command decoration is displayed after the event is detected.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein selection of the command decoration is performed using a cursor.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CLI of the shell is a Windows operation system command prompt.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CLI of the shell is an iOS terminal.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CLI of the shell allows for the new text to be entered only at a tail end of the CLI.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CLI of the shell is not a text editor.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command suggestion includes a change directory command.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command suggestion includes a termination command.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command suggestion is a single command suggestion displayed in the menu.

11. A computer system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more hardware storage devices that store instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the computer system to:
detect an event in which a command is entered in a command line interface (CLI) of a shell;
display, proximately to a line in the CLI where new text is enterable in a character grid of the CLI and in a border region that is outside of the character grid, a command decoration that is selectable and that, when selected, triggers display of a menu comprising a command suggestion, wherein:
the command suggestion is generated based on the command,
the border region is an outer peripheral region of a window of the character grid of the CLI, and
an entirety of the command decoration is displayed within the border region;

detect selection of the command decoration;
display the menu comprising the command suggestion; and
in response to selection of the command suggestion, cause the shell to execute the command suggestion.

12. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein the menu displays a single command suggestion, which is the command suggestion.

13. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein the command entered in the CLI is not recognized by the shell.

14. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein the command entered in the CLI is recognized by the shell.

15. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein the command suggestion is generated based on a determined context.

16. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the determined context is a historical context of a user who entered the command.

17. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the determined context is a command context of the command.

18. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein the menu includes a plurality of command suggestions.

19. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein the CLI operates independently relative to an integration development environment (IDE).

20. A computer system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more hardware storage devices that store instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the computer system to:
detect an event in which a command is entered in a command line interface (CLI) of a shell;
display, proximately to a line in the CLI where new text is enterable in a character grid of the CLI and in a border region that is outside of the character grid, a command decoration that is selectable and that, when selected, triggers display of a menu comprising a command suggestion, wherein:
the command suggestion is generated based on the command,
the border region is an outer peripheral region of a window of the character grid of the CLI, and
an entirety of the command decoration is displayed within the border region;

detect selection of the command decoration;
display the menu comprising the command suggestion; and
in response to selection of the command suggestion, cause the command suggestion to be automatically entered into the CLI while refraining, at least temporarily, from executing the command suggestion.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Imms Daniel John
• Rogge Megan Moriarity

Classifications

• G06F9/45512 Primary

  Command shells · CPC title

• G06F9/453 Primary

  Help systems · CPC title