ghostty

Open a new Ghostty window (not supported on macOS)

$ ghostty

$ ghostty -e [command]

$ ghostty +list-keybinds

$ ghostty +list-actions

$ ghostty +list-themes

$ ghostty +show-config --default --docs

ghostty [options]

--help
    Displays a help message detailing command-line options and exits.

--version
    Prints the Ghostty version information to standard output and exits.

--config PATH
    Specifies an alternative path to the configuration file, overriding the default location (e.g., ~/.config/ghostty/config).

Ghostty is a modern, GPU-accelerated terminal emulator written in Rust, designed for high performance and a rich feature set. It leverages your graphics card to render text, offering significantly faster redraws and a smoother experience compared to traditional CPU-bound terminals. Ghostty natively supports Wayland, providing seamless integration with modern Linux desktop environments, while also offering X11 support via Xwayland. Key features include true color support, font ligatures, powerful scrollback capabilities, and a flexible configuration system based on Lua, allowing users extensive customization of appearance and behavior. It aims to provide a fast, secure, and highly customizable terminal experience for developers and power users alike.

Being a relatively new project, Ghostty's feature set and maturity are continually evolving. Optimal performance relies heavily on proper GPU driver setup and hardware acceleration. While it supports both Wayland and X11, its native Wayland integration is where it shines, potentially offering a more optimized experience on modern Wayland compositors. Users should be aware that extensive customization requires familiarity with its Lua-based configuration system.

Ghostty is primarily configured via a Lua-based configuration file, typically located at ~/.config/ghostty/config. This powerful and flexible system allows users to customize virtually every aspect of the terminal's appearance and behavior, including keybindings, colors, fonts, and startup commands, offering a level of control beyond simple command-line flags.

Ghostty was initiated by Michael Smith in late 2022 / early 2023 with the goal of creating a performant, feature-rich terminal emulator that takes full advantage of modern GPU capabilities. Inspired by other fast terminals like Alacritty and Kitty, it was developed in Rust, emphasizing memory safety and speed. Its design incorporates lessons learned from existing terminal emulators, aiming for a highly customizable experience primarily through its Lua-based configuration, distinguishing itself by offering a unique approach to terminal emulation on Linux.

alacritty(1), kitty(1), foot(1), wezterm(1), tmux(1), screen(1)