Terminology
ActiveOverview
Terminology is a terminal emulator built with the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries (EFL) for Linux, BSD, and UNIX systems. It functions as a vt100 terminal with standard features like 256-color support and Xterm emulation, while adding capabilities such as inline media display, split views, and tabs. It targets users seeking a feature-rich console interface beyond basic emulators.
Key Features
- Split Terminal Support - Divide the terminal window into multiple panes for simultaneous views.
- Tab Support - Manage multiple terminal sessions within tabs.
- Inline Media Display - Show images, videos, and play music files directly in the terminal using tycat and typop.
- Background Images and Videos - Set custom backgrounds with images or videos via tybg.
- Transparency Control - Adjust background transparency level using tyalpha.
- GPU Accelerated Rendering - Optional OpenGL acceleration for improved performance.
- Z-Modem Like File Sending - Transfer files to the terminal over SSH with tysend.
- Preview Icons - Display file preview icons in directory listings via tyls.
- Command Mode - Access terminal controls with Alt+Home for copy, paste, and grouping.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Full feature set including media support, splits, tabs, and tools |
Platforms & Requirements
Runs on Linux, BSD, and UNIX systems requiring EFL libraries; available via Snap packages and native distro repositories like Ubuntu and openSUSE. Minimum requirements include EFL toolkit; optional GPU acceleration needs OpenGL support. Some desktop environments like GNOME may require installing the full Enlightenment desktop for full functionality.
Integrations & Ecosystem
- EFL (Enlightenment Foundation Libraries)
- Snap package manager
- SSH file transfer (tysend)
- Inline media via tycat/typop
- tyls for enhanced directory listing
- tybg for background customization
Alternatives
| App | Difference |
|---|---|
| Alacritty | Rust-based GPU-accelerated terminal focused on speed and simplicity without media features. |
| Kitty | GPU renderer with image support and tiling but lacks EFL-specific tools like inline video. |
| Xterm | Standard lightweight emulator Terminology emulates closely but without advanced media or split panes. |
| urxvt | Highly customizable with Perl extensions but no native inline media or GPU acceleration. |
Reputation
Terminology is recognized for its unique features like inline media playback and file previews, distinguishing it among terminal emulators. Users appreciate the extensive customization and EFL integration on compatible systems. Criticisms include dependency on EFL, which may require additional setup on non-Enlightenment desktops like GNOME, and occasional configuration issues.