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Ghostty

A fast, native terminal emulator with GPU rendering and many modern features.

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Stars
63.3k
Forks
3.8k
Licence
MIT
Language
Zig
Last update
4 days ago
Type
App

What it is

Ghostty is a terminal emulator, the window where you type commands and run programs. It aims to combine speed, a rich feature set, and a native look on each platform, using GPU rendering. The README describes native apps for macOS (SwiftUI, Metal) and Linux (GTK), plus a reusable library called libghostty for embedding a terminal in other software.

  • Run everyday shell sessions with multiple windows, tabs, and splits (Mac and Linux with GTK)
  • Use Kitty graphics protocol or synchronized rendering with compatible terminal programs
  • Script the macOS app via AppleScript or Apple Shortcuts
  • Embed a terminal in another application using libghostty (C or Zig)

Great for

  • Developers who spend a lot of time in the terminal and want a fast, native-feeling app
  • macOS users who want a SwiftUI-based terminal with menus, settings, and AppleScript or Shortcuts support
  • Linux users who want a GTK app with tabs, splits, and systemd integration
  • Developers building their own terminal-based tool who want to evaluate the libghostty library

Not ideal for

  • Windows users looking for a native app: the README describes macOS and Linux apps and does not list a Windows GUI (libghostty-vt is noted as compatible with Windows, which is a different thing)
  • People who need a stable library API today: the README says libghostty-vt's API signatures are still in flux and libghostty has no version tag yet
  • Anyone who expects a finished Ghostty-specific escape sequence set: the README says that roadmap step has not been started
Step-by-step guide: how to use GhosttyInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

How to get it

  1. 1

    Download the app

    Clone the repository

    git clone https://github.com/ghostty-org/ghostty
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Get a build from the download page at https://ghostty.org/download
    • Install and open the app for your platform
    • Open a new window or tab and start using your shell
    • Read the documentation at https://ghostty.org/docs for configuration
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Use tabs and splits (Mac and Linux with GTK) to organize multiple sessions in one window
    • On macOS, use AppleScript or Apple Shortcuts (AppIntents) to automate the terminal
    • On Linux, the README notes systemd integration for always-on mode and new windows in a single instance
    • Explore the examples directory and Ghostling if you want to embed libghostty

Downloads

Source code (.zip)main branch · straight from GitHubOfficial website & docsghostty.org

Strengths

  • The README claims a performance level close to Alacritty while offering more features and a more native app experience
  • Supports many modern terminal protocols, and states it follows standards, then xterm, then popular terminals as its reference
  • Crash reports are saved locally and are not sent off your machine automatically

Trade-offs

  • The libghostty library is not yet versioned and its C docs are described as still in progress
  • The README's performance claims are qualitative and do not include specific benchmark numbers
  • The README is truncated, so platform support details and build requirements beyond what's shown are unclear

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.