kitty README

The project's README from github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty. As one markdown file: README.md.

= kitty - the fast, feature-rich, cross-platform, GPU based terminal

If you live in the terminal, kitty is made for you!

See https://sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty/[the kitty website].

image:https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/workflows/CI/badge.svg["Build status", link="https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/actions?query=workflow%3ACI"]

https://sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty/faq/[Frequently Asked Questions]

To ask other questions about kitty usage, use either the https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/discussions/[discussions on GitHub] or the https://www.reddit.com/r/KittyTerminal[Reddit community]

Packaging status in various repositories:

image:https://repology.org/badge/vertical-allrepos/kitty-terminal.svg?columns=3&header=kitty["Packaging status", link="https://repology.org/project/kitty-terminal/versions"]

kitty (kovidgoyal/kitty)

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35.3K ·GitHub
What is this?kitty is a fast, feature-rich terminal emulator that renders its output on the GPU and works across platforms - it gives you a command line in a window on your desktop.
What does it mean that it is GPU based?Drawing is hardware-accelerated through OpenGL, so heavy output and scrolling stay smooth without loading the CPU. It is a desktop app you install, not a library or a shell.
Is it mature enough to be a daily driver?Yes: kitty has been in development since 2016, is actively maintained, and has over 35,000 GitHub stars, so it is an established project rather than an experiment.
Which operating systems does it run on?Linux, macOS and Windows are all covered, so you can make it your daily terminal on any of the three major desktops.
Do I need a powerful graphics card for that?No. Any OpenGL-capable graphics, including ordinary integrated GPUs, is enough - kitty only uses the GPU to draw text fast, not for heavy 3D work.
What is kitty written in?GitHub lists Python as the primary language, with C and Go code also in the repository.
Does kitty cost anything?No - it is free, open-source software released under the GPLv3 license.
What are similar projects?ghostty, wezterm, cobra, xterm.js, posting, alacritty, mpv, gdbgui
Creator
kovidgoyal
Size
71.9 MB
Stars
35.3K
Age
10y
Commits · 90 Days