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Guide · Open source

How to use Ghostty: install, settings and key features

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Ghostty is an open-source terminal emulator, the window where you type commands and run programs. This guide explains what it is, which platforms the README describes, and what features it lists, so you can decide whether to install it and what to look at first. It is written for developers and other readers who are comfortable with a terminal but are new to Ghostty.

Ghosttyghostty-org/ghostty · ★ 63.3k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Check your platform. The README describes native apps for macOS and Linux. If you are on Windows, the README does not list a Windows GUI app.
  2. 2Get the app. Open the download page at ghostty.org/download and get the build for your system.
  3. 3Read the docs. Open ghostty.org/docs for configuration and usage details.
  4. 4Try the platform features. On macOS, look at the menus and settings GUI. On Linux, look at tabs and splits.
  5. 5Set up crash reports if needed. If Ghostty crashes, restart it so the crash reporter writes a report to the crash directory.
  6. 6Evaluate libghostty if you build tools. Read the examples and the C API docs before you depend on the library, since its API is still in flux.

What is Ghostty and who is it for?

Ghostty describes itself as a terminal emulator that aims to be fast, feature-rich, and native at the same time. The project is MIT licensed and mostly written in Zig.

The README names several groups it fits well: developers who spend a lot of time in the terminal, macOS users who want a SwiftUI-based app with menus, settings and AppleScript or Shortcuts support, Linux users who want a GTK app with tabs and splits, and developers who want to evaluate the libghostty library for their own tools.

Install Ghostty on macOS or Linux

The README does not give a step-by-step install. It points to the download page on the Ghostty website, which is the place to get the app. The README lists no prerequisites for the app.

The README also shows a command to clone the source repository. Cloning gives you the source code, not a ready-to-run app, so use the download page if you only want to use the terminal.

The README does not list a Windows GUI. Its Windows mention concerns libghostty-vt, a library, not an app.

  • Download the app from the official download page at ghostty.org/download.
  • Use the documentation at ghostty.org/docs for setup details.
  • Only clone the repository if you want to read or build the source.
git clone https://github.com/ghostty-org/ghostty

Know what the macOS and Linux apps offer

On macOS, the app is built with SwiftUI and uses a Metal renderer with CoreText for font discovery. The README says it has real windowing, menu bars and a settings GUI, and supports AppleScript and Apple Shortcuts (AppIntents).

On Linux, the app is built with GTK. The README says it integrates with systemd when available, for things like always-on mode, new windows in a single instance, and cgroup isolation.

Both apps support multi-window use, tabbing and splits. On the Mac and GTK-based Linux builds, the README also mentions tab renaming and tab coloring.

Understand Ghostty's performance and standards claims

The README says Ghostty is in the same performance category as the fastest terminals, and says Ghostty and Alacritty are usually within a few percentage points of each other on various benchmarks. It describes its renderer as OpenGL on Linux and Metal on macOS.

On compatibility, the README says Ghostty implements the regularly used control sequences and can run every mainstream terminal program without issue. It also lists modern features such as the Kitty graphics protocol, clipboard sequences and synchronized rendering.

Treat these as the project's own claims. The README does not include independent benchmark numbers, so test the app on your own workload if speed matters to you.

Use libghostty if you build terminal software

libghostty is a C-compatible, zero-dependency library for building a terminal emulator or embedding one in another application. The README says libghostty-vt is usable today for Zig and C and is compatible with macOS, Linux, Windows and WebAssembly, but its API signatures are still in flux.

The README says libghostty has no version tag yet. It points to the examples directory, the Ghostling project and a Doxygen site for the C API as starting points.

  • Look at the examples directory for small C and Zig examples.
  • Read the Ghostling project for a complete example.
  • Check the Doxygen C API site before you rely on the interface.

Find crash reports and what they mean

Ghostty has a built-in crash reporter. Reports are saved to the $XDG_STATE_HOME/ghostty/crash directory. If $XDG_STATE_HOME is not set, the default is ~/.local/state.

Crash reports stay on your machine and are not sent anywhere automatically. Reports are generated only the next time Ghostty starts after a crash, so restart Ghostty if you want a report for the last crash.

ls ~/.local/state/ghostty/crash

What people use it for

  • Run shell sessions and build tools in a fast, native-feeling terminal on macOS.
  • Organize work with multiple windows, tabs and splits on Linux.
  • Control the macOS app with AppleScript or Apple Shortcuts.
  • Embed a terminal in your own application using libghostty.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ghostty free?

The README lists the project under the MIT licence, which is an open-source licence. Check the repository's licence file for the full terms.

How do I install Ghostty?

The README points to the download page at ghostty.org/download for the app. It also shows a git clone command for the source code, which is a different thing from the app.

Does Ghostty run on Windows?

The README describes native apps for macOS and Linux and does not list a Windows GUI. It says libghostty-vt is compatible with Windows, but that is a library for building terminal software, not the app.

What are the alternatives to Ghostty?

The README lists Alacritty, Kitty, WezTerm and iTerm2 as comparable projects. Ghostty's README compares its speed to Alacritty and says it has more features and a more native app experience.

Where are Ghostty crash reports saved?

Reports are saved to $XDG_STATE_HOME/ghostty/crash, or ~/.local/state/ghostty/crash if that variable is not set. They are not sent off your machine automatically.

Is libghostty stable enough to build on?

The README says libghostty-vt's underlying functionality is stable because the Ghostty app has used it for a long time, but its API signatures are still changing. libghostty has no version tag yet, so pin your work carefully.

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Our verdict

Ghostty suits developers and macOS or Linux users who want a fast, native terminal with tabs, splits and platform integration. Skip it if you need a native Windows app, or if you need a stable library API today, since the README says libghostty's API is still in flux.

Install options & downloads