Build serves as a pivotal moment each year, allowing for meaningful connections with the global developer community and sharing the innovations that have emerged over the past year. Engaging with developers who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on Windows has consistently highlighted a desire for a platform that is frictionless and adaptable, enabling a seamless development experience across local and cloud environments, various platforms, languages, and frameworks. This feedback has been instrumental in shaping the announcements made today.
The essence of exceptional development lies in robust fundamentals paired with an outstanding developer experience. The commitment to enhancing Windows 11’s quality remains steadfast, with a focus on security and reliability across the operating system’s core components—from Explorer to Start to Search. The overarching aim is to alleviate cognitive load, whether one is crafting modern applications or exploring agent-driven workflows. With the ongoing evolution of AI in software development, there is a significant investment in facilitating secure AI workloads, whether on-device, in the cloud, or a hybrid of both, without compromising performance. The goal is clear: to provide a platform that accelerates innovation.
What’s new for Windows platform at Build?
- Developer-optimized Windows 11 experience to build and ship faster:
- Coreutils for Windows: A suite of Linux-like command line utilities now available natively on Windows.
- WSL containers: A forthcoming public preview feature allowing users to create and interact with Linux containers using familiar CLI and API.
- Windows Development Skills: Structured knowledge for building native Windows apps using WinUI3 skills and WinApp CLI, now generally available.
- Intelligent Terminal: An experimental feature that integrates context-aware intelligence into the terminal experience for debugging and task execution.
- Windows Developer Configurations: A WinGet-powered setup that creates a distraction-free development environment with essential tools, now generally available.
- Windows 365 with Developer Configuration: A pre-configured cloud-based development environment available in public preview.
- Secure Windows platform for agents:
- Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC) SDK: A policy-driven execution layer for defining agent access and enforcing containment boundaries, available in early preview.
- Agent 365 integration: Enhances security for agents running on Windows with integrated protections from Defender, Entra, Intune, and Purview, available in preview.
- OpenClaw: Runs securely on Windows using MXC, allowing for easy installation and setup of agent connections.
- NVIDIA’s OpenShell: Provides a straightforward deployment package for autonomous agents on Windows, built on MXC.
- Windows 365 for Agents: Offers secure, managed Cloud PCs for executing enterprise workflows, now generally available.
- Unmetered intelligence on Windows powered by on-device AI:
- Aion 1.0 Instruct: A new, efficient on-device small language model designed for local workloads, available in the coming months.
- Expanded Windows AI APIs: Now accessible on more Windows 11 PCs across CPU and GPU, enhancing local AI capabilities.
- Surface RTX Spark Dev Box: A purpose-built device for developers featuring NVIDIA RTX Spark silicon, designed to handle AI workloads locally with ease.
- DGX Station for Windows: The most powerful deskside AI supercomputer for developing and running agents, coming in Q4 this year.
- Project Solara: A new platform designed for agent-driven experiences, simplifying the development process across various environments.
- New capabilities in Microsoft Store: Enhancements aimed at making the store a trusted platform for app distribution, including faster onboarding and improved analytics for developers.
Developer-optimized Windows 11 experience to build and ship faster
The Windows 11 experience has been meticulously optimized for developers, incorporating essential command line utilities, a familiar shell, and an efficient setup process. The introduction of WSL containers enhances the ability to create and manage Linux containers seamlessly within Windows.
Announcing general availability of Coreutils for Windows
Recognizing the frequent transitions developers make between platforms, Coreutils for Windows has been developed to provide a consistent command-line experience. These Linux-like utilities run natively on Windows, allowing developers to maintain their workflows without disruption.
Announcing WSL containers, coming soon to public preview
With WSL containers, developers can create, run, and manage Linux containers directly within Windows, eliminating the need for third-party tools and enhancing visibility for IT teams. This feature will be available in public preview soon, further integrating Linux capabilities into the Windows ecosystem.
Announcing general availability of Windows Developer Configurations
Windows Developer Configurations streamline the transition from a fresh machine to a fully operational coding environment, ensuring developers can quickly access the tools they need.
Announcing Intelligent Terminal, available as experimental version
The Intelligent Terminal enhances the developer experience by integrating context-aware tools directly into the terminal, minimizing context switching and improving workflow efficiency.
Announcing general availability of Windows Development Skills
Windows Development Skills empower agents with structured knowledge for building native Windows applications, enhancing efficiency throughout the development lifecycle.
Announcing Windows 365 with Developer configuration, available in public preview
Windows 365 now offers a cloud-based development environment that is preconfigured for immediate use, allowing teams to standardize their development processes while maintaining flexibility.
Windows is the secure platform to build and run agents with OS-enforced containment, agent identity and enterprise-grade manageability
As agents evolve, the need for robust security measures becomes paramount. Windows has integrated foundational elements of containment, identity, and manageability to ensure a secure environment for agent operations.
Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC) — now available in early preview
MXC introduces a policy-driven execution layer that allows developers to define access controls for agents, ensuring a secure and efficient development environment.
OS-enforced Agent Identity and enterprise manageability on Windows
Windows assigns identities to agents, ensuring that all activities can be monitored and governed effectively, enhancing security and compliance across the board.
Innovating with partners in the ecosystem
Collaboration with industry leaders like Hermes, Manus, NVIDIA, OpenAI, and OpenClaw ensures that the solutions being developed meet the real needs of developers.
Announcing Windows 365 for Agents generally available within Agent 365
Windows 365 for Agents enables AI agents to execute complex workflows across various software applications, enhancing productivity and efficiency.
Unmetered intelligence delivered on Windows
As AI models advance, Windows is positioned to support local execution, reducing reliance on cloud resources and enabling developers to harness powerful capabilities directly on their devices.
A new generation of on-device models – Aion 1.0 Instruct and Aion 1.0 Plan in preview
The introduction of Aion 1.0 models represents a significant leap in local execution capabilities, providing developers with tools designed for efficiency and agentic reasoning.
Announcing new Speech Recognition API
The new Speech Recognition API allows for real-time, on-device transcription, enhancing accessibility and enabling innovative applications without the need for constant internet connectivity.
Announcing Expansion of Windows AI APIs across GPUs and CPUs, now available
The expansion of Windows AI APIs to include broader hardware support enables developers to create AI-powered applications that can reach a wider audience.
Windows on next-generation hardware purpose-built for developers
New developer devices are being introduced that leverage the latest advancements in hardware, ensuring that developers have access to the tools they need for cutting-edge work.
Announcing Surface RTX Spark Dev Box available later this year
The Surface RTX Spark Dev Box is designed to deliver exceptional AI performance, allowing developers to optimize and run large-scale workloads locally.
Introducing DGX Station for Windows, available later this year
DGX Station for Windows represents a significant advancement in AI computing, providing the infrastructure necessary for developing and running complex AI models directly within the Windows ecosystem.
Stronger Windows security, reducing risk by default
Windows is enhancing its security framework to proactively mitigate risks, ensuring that applications are prepared for future challenges while maintaining robust protection against current threats.
Looking ahead
As the development landscape continues to evolve, Windows remains committed to providing developers with the tools and flexibility they need to innovate and excel in their endeavors.
