Optional richer semantics

Enhanced Terminal Protocol

A separate, backward-compatible proposal for applications that want to communicate more than a stream of painted character cells.

Compatibility rule: old terminal + old app works; new terminal + old app works; old terminal + new app gracefully falls back; new terminal + new app can use richer capabilities.

Semantic status

A process can report “working,” “65% complete,” “waiting for input,” “failed,” or “needs attention.” The terminal decides whether that appears in the tab, taskbar, status area, accessibility layer, or nowhere at all.

Live regions

A clock, Git indicator, support-ticket badge, or build status can own a small independently updated region without cursor-positioning tricks or corrupting partially typed input.

Richer input

Applications can subscribe to pointer events on specific regions while the terminal retains ownership of selection, links, scrolling, and other gestures by default.

Fine-coordinate graphics

The traditional cell grid remains the baseline. A capable app can optionally address a finer logical plane — for example 8×12 graphics units per character cell — for diagrams, meters, borders, charts, and compact UI geometry.