Alacritty

Alacritty is an open-source CLI / Terminal that functions as a cross-platform terminal emulator that focuses on performance by utilizing GPU acceleration via OpenGL to handle rendering tasks. This approach allows the software to maintain high throughput and responsiveness during heavy text output.

The software is deployed as a desktop application available for Linux, macOS, Windows, and BSD. It is designed to integrate with other applications rather than reimplementing their functionality, which allows it to provide a flexible set of features without adding unnecessary bloat to the core binary. It is currently considered to be at a beta level of readiness but is used by many as a daily driver.

Key features

• OpenGL acceleration for rendering
• Cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, Linux, and BSD
• Vi mode support for navigation
• Configuration via TOML files
• Support for ConPTY on Windows 10 version 1809 and higher
• Integration with terminal multiplexers like tmux
• High throughput performance verified via vtebench

Written in Rust, Alacritty avoids including built-in tabs or splits to maintain a lean architecture. Users manage these layouts through a window manager or a terminal multiplexer. The application requires at least OpenGL ES 2.0 to function. Configuration is handled through a file located in standard system config directories, such as XDG_CONFIG_HOME on Unix-like systems or APPDATA on Windows. Because it does not include a GUI configuration editor, all adjustments to the terminal environment are made directly within the TOML configuration file.

Alacritty is positioned as a high-performance tool for users who prefer a minimal terminal emulator and manage their workflow through external utilities and configuration files.