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Ghostty

by Ghostty project (Mitchell Hashimoto) · Application

Native, GPU-accelerated terminal emulator for macOS and Linux written in Zig, with platform-native UI and a cross-platform core library

MIT licenseOpen sourceFreeLocal
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Link verified Nov 2, 2026

Overview

Ghostty is a terminal emulator created by Mitchell Hashimoto and developed as an open-source project under the MIT license. It is written in Zig and renders through Metal on macOS and OpenGL on Linux, with a native SwiftUI/AppKit application on macOS and a GTK application on Linux rather than a shared web-based interface. The project emphasizes standards compliance (xterm compatibility, modern escape sequences, Kitty graphics and keyboard protocols) alongside native platform integration such as tabs, splits, quick terminal and system shortcuts.

Configuration is a plain text file with no scripting language, which keeps setup simple but limits automation compared with programmable terminals. The core is also exposed as libghostty, a C-compatible library intended for embedding terminal emulation in other applications. Ghostty is a natural fit for users who want a fast terminal with a native feel for tmux, Neovim or SSH-heavy work. There is no Windows build at the time of writing, and some features that other emulators offer, such as built-in session persistence or AI integration, are out of scope.

Capabilities

  • GPU rendering via Metal (macOS) and OpenGL (Linux)
  • Native tabs, splits and window management
  • Kitty graphics and keyboard protocol support
  • Plain-text configuration with live reload
  • Shell integration for prompts and directory tracking
  • libghostty embeddable terminal core

Typical workflows

  1. Run tmux or Neovim sessions over SSH to cluster nodes
  2. Use the quick terminal as a drop-down console on macOS
  3. Embed terminal emulation in another application via libghostty

Strengths

  • Native macOS application rather than an Electron shell
  • MIT license
  • Strong terminal standards compliance

Limitations

  • No Windows version
  • No built-in scripting or plugin system
  • Younger project with fewer third-party integrations

Prerequisites

  • macOS or Linux; download from ghostty.org or Homebrew cask

Who it is for

  • Developers working in terminal-centric workflows
  • macOS users wanting a native terminal
  • Application developers embedding a terminal

Alternatives & comparison

iTerm2 is the long-standing macOS terminal with a much larger feature set (profiles, triggers, tmux integration, scripting API) but a heavier interface; Ghostty focuses on speed and a smaller surface. Warp is a commercial terminal that adds AI assistance and block-based output, whereas Ghostty stays a conventional emulator.

  • iTerm2

    Feature-rich terminal emulator for macOS with split panes, profiles, triggers, search, tmux integration and a Python scripting API

    Open sourceOpen source
  • tmux

    Terminal multiplexer that keeps shell sessions alive on a server, splits a terminal into windows and panes, and lets sessions be detached and reattached

    Open sourceOpen source
  • Warp

    Commercial terminal built in Rust that groups output into blocks, adds an IDE-style input editor and integrates AI agents for command generation and debugging

    ProprietaryFreemium
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Sources & verification

Primary sources consulted for this record. Claims are tied to the fields each source supports; the automated link checker re-verifies every URL on a schedule.

Confidence
High
Reviewed
Nov 1, 2026
Links
Verified · Nov 2, 2026

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