content area flickers with each character input after v1.19.2682.0

[ddad431]

Windows Terminal version

1.22.250424001

Windows build number

10.0.26100.0

Other Software

Steps to reproduce

Preparation:

1. Install v1.18.10301.0 (last v1.18), v1.19.2682.0 (first v1.19)
2. set big padding(30) and grey theme(one half dark) # just easy to observe

In default windows terminal shell(Windows PowerShell):

1. Type one character
2. Observer bg color of content area and padding area
   • [v1.18.10301.0] Nothing happened.
   • [v1.19.2682.0] For content area, the background color darkens, then matches the padding background color after a short while.

Expected Behavior

v1.19.2682.0 and after should same with v1.18.10301.0 and before.

Actual Behavior

The content area flickers with each character input.

[MattyInIt]

Yo, thanks for the detailed steps, really helps!

I gave it a spin, and yep — from v1.19.2682.0 onwards, typing with big padding (like 30) and the One Half Dark theme makes the background flicker like it’s having an identity crisis every time you press a key. It darkens, then matches the padding, then repeats. Not exactly the smoothest show.

Back in v1.18, it was all calm and steady — no flicker, just nice and stable. Way better for keeping your eyes chill and your focus sharp.

This flicker is pretty distracting, especially with big padding and dark themes where every little flash screams for attention.

Just here to say, I see it too and it’s annoying. Hopefully, the devs can tame that flicker beast someday.

Thanks for reporting and keeping the Terminal real!

[DHowett]

@lhecker suggests that this might be an issue caused by the combination of old drivers and the new rendering engine using multi-plane overlays (MPO).

A couple ideas:

• Update to a version of your graphics drivers that is newer than the ones from your OEM
• Give your default profile settings a slight transparency (say, 99% opacity rather than 100)

Do either of those work for either of you/?

[ddad431]

Update to a version of your graphics drivers that is newer than the ones from your OEM

I havd updated the newst graphics drives, the problem persists.

Give your default profile settings a slight transparency (say, 99% opacity rather than 100)

Yes. However, this only masks the problem. I noticed that starting from v1.19, the Vim cursor flickers severely during movement (use vipooo to observe, compared with v1.18). After trying the two methods mentioned above, the problem persists.

[lhecker]

I havd updated the newst graphics drives, the problem persists.

What version are you on now?

I noticed that starting from v1.19, the Vim cursor flickers severely during movement

Does this issue only happen in vim or at all times (even outside vim)? Your initial bug reports implies that it happens all the time.

If it's only in VIM or only with certain profiles, we need to know what version of VIM you're using and in which environment (WSL, etc.). Is it in tmux, on a remote server, SSH, which SSH, etc. If it's only in certain profiles, please be precise when describing the issue. 🙂

use vipooo to observe

I'm not sure what vipooo is. Did you mean that as a series of commands for vim? (I.e. moving the cursor inside the selection?)

After trying the two methods mentioned above, the problem persists.

Can you make a screen recording of the issue? We tried to reproduce this issue and couldn't.

[ddad431]

@lhecker

What version are you on now?

> Get-CimInstance Win32_VideoController | Select-Object Name, DriverVersion

Name                  DriverVersion
----                  -------------
NVIDIA GeForce MX250  32.0.15.7652   <- (updated by NVIDIA APP)
Intel(R) UHD Graphics 31.0.101.2130  <- (Up to date, checked by intel-driver-support-assistant)

Does this issue only happen in vim or at all times (even outside vim)? Your initial bug reports implies that it happens all the time.

Perhaps I didn't express myself clearly, and you misunderstood what I meant. The flickering problem of vim has been around since v.1.19. Mentioning vim here is only to prove that issue was never truly resolved by adjusting transparency.

If it's only in VIM or only with certain profiles, we need to know what version of VIM you're using and in which environment (WSL, etc.). Is it in tmux, on a remote server, SSH, which SSH, etc. If it's only in certain profiles, please be precise when describing the issue.

Windows: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 10.0.26100
PowerShell : v7.5.1
Vim version: v9.1.1441 (vim-nightly, installed by scoop, vim stable(v9.1) same with problem)
Vim profiles: None ($env:LANG = "en_US.UTF-8"; vim -u NONE -N)
Remote use: No

I'm not sure what vipooo is. Did you mean that as a series of commands for vim? (I.e. moving the cursor inside the selection?

Yes. Select a paragraph and use 'o' to move the cursor back and forth (first line, last line), observing the cursor state. However, vipooo is just for easier observation and doesn't mean it only occurs in this scenario.

Can you make a screen recording of the issue? We tried to reproduce this issue and couldn't.

Yes. v1.18

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/1bc5f8b4-be76-4366-ab92-a5c3241e03cf

v1.22

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/2596cf51-af9c-4e1f-a7ae-880b2d7b2a1b

[ddad431]

I found that this issue also exists in standalone cmd or PowerShell (Windows PowerShell, PowerShell 7.5.1).

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/05335af8-0d88-4a3e-b1f3-c23e2d339741