Clink is a command line enhancement tool that brings Bash-style editing capabilities to Windows cmd.exe.
Clink solves the problem of cmd.exe's limited command line editing by injecting the GNU Readline library into the Windows shell. It intercepts Windows API functions to replace the native prompt and input line editing with Readline-powered alternatives, giving cmd.exe users access to features long standard in Unix shells. The tool provides auto-suggestions based on history and file completion, persistent command history across sessions, tab completion with interactive lists, context-sensitive colored input, customizable key bindings, and the ability to script the prompt dynamically using Lua. It also automatically handles the "Terminate batch job?" prompt that normally interrupts batch operations.
Clink suits developers and system administrators who spend significant time in cmd.exe and want a more capable command line experience without switching shells. It works best for users who value Readline's editing model and want features like auto-suggestions and persistent history in their Windows terminal. The tool can be installed via the setup executable, winget, scoop, or as a ZIP file, and can run either as an autorun injection when cmd.exe starts or be manually invoked for specific sessions.
The project maintains active issue tracking and documentation. Development activity shows consistent engagement with bug reports and feature requests through the issues page, and the tool receives updates that address both new functionality and compatibility with evolving Windows environments.
