retrocore

Retrocore is a Windows Terminal CRT shader manager with a CLI, presets, guided install scripts, and standalone Windows scripts for applying the shader without the CLI.

It keeps the shader project source in one folder, generates a managed shader file, and updates Windows Terminal settings so the effect can be turned on, turned off, or scoped to specific profiles.

Gallery

Status

Retrocore is currently being packaged as a v0.1-alpha.

Alpha means:

• the core CLI flow is usable now
• Windows Terminal settings are backed up before changes are written
• settings parsing tolerates common JSONC-style comments and trailing commas
• compatibility and UX are still being tightened before a broader release

Features

• retrocore on and retrocore off aliases for quick toggling
• preset system with built-in and user-defined presets
• config editing through CLI commands instead of manual JSON edits
• Retrocore Manager UI for visual control of presets, targeting, and effect values
• profile targeting for specific terminals
• guided Windows install flow with optional Python bootstrapping
• standalone PowerShell and batch scripts for direct global apply/remove
• automatic settings backups in snapshots/

Preferred command style:

• use retrocore on and retrocore off as the main toggle verbs
• enable and disable still work, but are kept as compatibility aliases

Quick start

From the project folder:

.\retrocore.cmd status
.\retrocore.cmd preset list
.\retrocore.cmd on
.\retrocore.cmd manager

Quick verification:

python .\tests\smoke_test.py

If you want a retrocore command available from any terminal:

.\install_dependencies.ps1

Or:

install_dependencies.bat

Common commands

retrocore on
retrocore off
retrocore help
retrocore help preset use
retrocore preset list
retrocore preset use amber
retrocore preset save my-tube --description "My preferred everyday preset"
retrocore target only "PowerShell"
retrocore effect glow_horizontal 0.12
retrocore get target.mode
retrocore set target.clear_non_target_profiles false --no-apply
retrocore manager

Standalone scripts

If you want a simple Windows-native path without the CLI:

• apply_global.ps1 / apply_global.bat
• remove_global.ps1 / remove_global.bat
• manager.ps1 / manager.bat

These scripts copy the shader into Windows Terminal's LocalState folder and patch settings.json directly.

Docs

• Help
• Install Guide
• CLI Reference
• Standalone Scripts
• Alpha Launch Notes
• v0.1 Alpha Release Notes

License

MIT. See LICENSE.

Project layout

• retrocore.py: the CLI
• manager.ps1 / manager.bat: direct Retrocore Manager launchers
• retrocore.cmd: local project wrapper
• retrocore.json: current project config
• presets.json: preset catalog
• install_dependencies.ps1 / install_dependencies.bat: guided setup
• apply_global.ps1 / apply_global.bat: standalone global apply
• remove_global.ps1 / remove_global.bat: standalone global removal
• shaders/retrocore.template.hlsl: managed shader template
• shaders/retrocore.generated.hlsl: last generated local shader
• snapshots/: backups and imported reference files

Notes

• Restart Windows Terminal after applying changes.
• The guided install creates a user-level command shim and points it at the current project folder.
• If you move the project folder later, rerun the installer.
• Built-in presets are protected and cannot be overwritten, renamed, or deleted.
• Writing back to Windows Terminal settings normalizes the file to standard JSON formatting.