Ghostty isn’t just another terminal emulator. It’s the kind of project that makes terminal purists raise an eyebrow and power users lean in with curiosity. It was born from frustration — the frustration of choosing two out of three among speed, features, and a native user experience. Ghostty’s creator set out to build something that refuses that trade-off, and the result is a radically modern take on one of the oldest tools in a developer’s toolkit.
At its core, Ghostty is a fast, GPU-accelerated, cross-platform terminal emulator that runs on macOS and Linux with plans for broader reach. It doesn’t just draw text; it renders it using GPU power for buttery smooth scrolling, seamless windowing, and a general feel that’s both snappy and polished. Developers who’ve spent years peering at blinking cursors can attest — when a terminal feels good, your workflow feels better.
A Terminal That Feels Native
What sets Ghostty apart from its peers isn’t just performance — it’s how naturally it fits into the operating system you’re running. On macOS, the UI is built with native frameworks so it behaves like a first-class citizen: menus that respond how you expect, keyboard shortcuts that match your muscle memory, and visual elements that belong on the platform. On Linux, the same commitment to native integration shines through with toolkit choices and UI decisions that respect the desktop environment. No awkward Frankenstein GUI, no imitating the look — Ghostty is part of the environment you’re in.
But Ghostty doesn’t stop at looking and acting native. It delivers tangible, modern features built for real work: multi-windows, tabs, splits, customizable color themes, ligature support, graphics protocols that let terminal apps show richer content, and more. If you’ve ever wished your terminal did just one more thing, Ghostty likely does — or it’s being engineered to do it soon.
Speed Without Sacrifice
Let’s talk speed because that’s where Ghostty really shines. Unlike traditional terminals that lean heavily on CPU rendering or compromise features for performance, Ghostty offloads rendering to the GPU. That means animations feel fluid, text rendering is crisp and immediate, and heavy output — whether it’s log files or compilation spew — doesn’t turn your terminal into a sluggish slideshow. Performance is a priority here, not an afterthought.
This isn’t buzzword hype. GPU acceleration, layered rendering, and smart threading mean Ghostty handles input/output and rendering in ways that put it in the same league as the fastest terminal emulators available — and in some scenarios, even beyond.
A Community-Driven Mission
What’s really unique about Ghostty isn’t just the code or the features — it’s the philosophy behind it. Rather than becoming a commercial product or a proprietary “enterprise” tool, Ghostty has embraced a non-profit, open-source model. This decision ensures that its development remains transparent, its roadmap aligned with community needs, and its stewardship focused on public benefit over profits. It’s a rare choice in the world of developer tools — one that speaks to a commitment to longevity, trust, and shared innovation.
This structure means Ghostty can accept community support and contributions without the risk of sudden pivots or commercial caprices that leave users stranded. The goal isn’t just to build a great terminal — it’s to nurture an ecosystem where open-source infrastructure thrives, evolves, and stays rooted in what developers actually want.
Why Developers Are Talking About Ghostty
Reactions from early adopters have spanned from “it finally does everything I want right out of the box” to deep technical debates on performance nuances. Some users rave about switching workflows entirely, while others appreciate how quickly Ghostty adapts to custom configurations. Sure, it’s young — and no tool is flawless — but Ghostty’s ambition is palpable, and that’s rare in the terminal space.
Whether you’re a seasoned systems engineer tired of terminal bottlenecks, a dev who loves tinkering with configuration files, or just someone who appreciates tools that work beautifully, Ghostty deserves a look. It combines modern software engineering with a philosophical twist: speed, power, beauty — and open-hearted community.
We've also made a Kitty vs Ghostty terminal comparison.
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