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Ghostty 1.4 is out with big improvements on Linux

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Ghostty 1.4 is out with big improvements on Linux

Ghostty 1.4.0 Release: Performance Enhancements and New Features

Ghostty, the widely recognized open-source terminal emulator, has launched its significant update—version 1.4.0—after a developmental period of seven months. This release introduces a variety of features and optimizations aimed at enhancing user experience across Linux and macOS platforms.

Notable Improvements

The Ghostty 1.4.0 update prioritizes performance, showcasing substantial enhancements particularly for users on Linux and macOS. Key updates include:

  • Performance Optimizations: Marked increases in speed and efficiency, notably through the new feature that compresses off-screen scrollback when the terminal is idle, reducing RAM usage by up to 90% for text-heavy sessions.
  • Advanced SSH Implementation: An improved SSH capability that makes remote connections more stable and efficient.
  • Dynamic Tab Management: Users can now rearrange terminal tab splits by simply dragging them, streamlining workflow significantly.

Enhanced Graphics Support

This release makes a noteworthy stride in graphics handling with full support for the Kitty graphics protocol. This includes capabilities for animations and relative placements, establishing Ghostty as the first non-Kitty terminal to incorporate this feature, which is particularly beneficial for TUI applications and scripts that render images within the terminal environment.

Full support for Kitty graphics protocol.

Linux Specific Enhancements

Among other improvements for Linux users, Ghostty 1.4.0 addresses previous issues with text clarity at fractional display scales (e.g., 125% and 150%). The update replaces GtkGLArea with an EGL rendering pipeline that operates on a separate thread, optimizing rendering performance.

Additionally, the following changes have been implemented:

  • Desktop notifications will now dismiss automatically when the terminal is active or closed.
  • An updated Noto emoji font supports new ZWJ sequences for better representation.
  • Enhanced functionality in Dolphin’s file manager allows users to open Ghostty directly from their current directory.
  • Split resizing improvements eliminate flickering and adjust minimum size restrictions.
  • Text selection retains the appropriate mouse cursor shape.
  • The command palette adopts terminal colors based on the user’s theme.
  • URLs can now be opened via the XDG desktop portal.

Installation Options

Ghostty 1.4.0 is already included in the repositories of Ubuntu 26.10, making it straightforward to install via the command:

apt install ghostty

However, to access the latest features in version 1.4.0, users may need to explore alternative installation methods:

  • Use an unofficial community-maintained Ghostty DEB, which comes with its own PPA for updates.
  • Download the Ghostty AppImage for a portable version.
  • Install through an unofficial Snap package.

For macOS users, Ghostty offers official binaries that support in-app updates, along with availability through Homebrew and other CLI package managers.

Support Policy Changes

It is essential to note that Ghostty 1.4.0 drops support for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS due to its requirement for GTK 4.18 and libadwaita 1.7. Consequently, users of this version will be unable to install the DEB package from the previous repositories.

Future Prospects

The underlying library of Ghostty for terminal emulation is expected to fuel future terminal applications in JetBrains IDEs. While the new Velocitty terminal app for Linux Mint does not use this library, its design has reportedly drawn inspiration from Ghostty, indicating the lasting impact of this terminal on the development community.

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