Getting Started with Ghostty: A Native, Fast, and Feature-Rich Terminal Emulator

Ghostty is a new terminal emulator by Mitchell Hashimoto, and itâs worth a look if youâre someone who lives in the command line. The pitch is simple: fast, feature-rich, and nativeâno compromises. Most terminals make you pick two out of the three. Ghostty tries to deliver on all fronts, and itâs got enough polish to feel like it might actually pull it off.
Letâs break it down.
What Makes Ghostty Different?
Native, Everywhere. Ghostty embraces the platform itâs running on. On macOS, itâs built with AppKit and SwiftUI. On Linux, it uses GTK4 through Zig. Tabs, splits, shortcutsâit all feels right at home. And on macOS, it takes things further with features like Quick Look integration and support for force touch. This isnât a one-size-fits-all approach; itâs tailored.
Feature-Rich Without the Bloat. Ghostty doesnât just check boxes; it adds meaningful capabilities. Kitty graphics protocol support, native tabs and splits, light/dark mode switching, and more. Itâs the little things, like seamless system integration and thoughtful defaults, that make it feel intentional.
Fast Where It Counts. Startup time, smooth scrolling, framerateâyouâll notice the difference. Ghostty doesnât claim to blow everything else out of the water, but itâs undeniably fast. Itâs the kind of performance you donât know youâve been missing until you use it.
Getting Started with Ghostty
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Download and Install. Head to the Ghostty GitHub page to grab the latest release. Installation is straightforward, with instructions for both macOS and Linux.
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Customize Your Workflow. Once installed, take a few minutes to explore the settings. Ghostty is built to fit into your workflow, whether that means enabling native tabs, tweaking theme settings, or setting up splits.
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Explore the Features.
- Kitty Graphics Protocol: A game-changer for rendering visuals directly in the terminal.
- Tabs and Splits: All native, no janky custom widgets.
- Automatic Theme Switching: Light and dark mode, synced with your system.
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Join the Community. Ghosttyâs Discord is where the magic happens. Whether youâre looking for tips, offering feedback, or just hanging out with fellow terminal nerds, itâs a great resource.
The Bottom Line
Ghostty isnât trying to reinvent the wheelâitâs just making a better one. If youâre happy with your current terminal, great. But if youâve ever thought, What if this was faster? What if it felt more like part of my OS? Ghostty might be exactly what youâre looking for.
Itâs not perfect (what is?), but itâs exciting. And even at version 1.0, itâs a solid option for anyone who spends time in the terminal. Grab it, try it out, and see if it clicks for you.
Sprouts đą are early ideas that might need revision and attention.
Saplings đż are a step aboveânot fully developed but more fleshed out than sprouts.
Evergreens đ˛ are complete and likely won't be updated anymore.
Read more about my digital garden.