cool-retro-term

cool-retro-term is a unique terminal emulator that recreates the nostalgic look and feel of vintage cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors from the computing era of the 1970s and 1980s. Unlike modern terminals that prioritize sleek, minimal aesthetics, this terminal embraces retro charm with authentic CRT effects including screen curvature, phosphor glow, scanlines, and flickering that genuinely mimics old computer displays.

Built on Qt6 and utilizing the QML port of qtermwidget from Konsole, cool-retro-term offers extensive customization options accessible through a simple context menu. Users can adjust colors, fonts, and visual effects to recreate everything from amber monochrome terminals to classic green-on-black displays, or even simulate specific vintage systems like IBM DOS machines. Despite its rich visual effects, the terminal is designed to remain reasonably lightweight while delivering eye-candy that appeals to retro computing enthusiasts.

This terminal is perfect for developers, system administrators, and computing nostalgics who want to combine modern terminal functionality with the aesthetic appeal of vintage computers. It works on both Linux and macOS, making it accessible to users who appreciate retro design without sacrificing the practical benefits of contemporary terminal features. Whether you're coding, managing servers, or simply want your workspace to have that distinctive retro-futuristic vibe, cool-retro-term transforms the mundane command line into a visually engaging experience.

Installation

# via Ubuntu/Debian
apt install cool-retro-term

# via Fedora
dnf install cool-retro-term

# via Arch
pacman -S cool-retro-term