What platforms does cool-retro-term support?

It runs on Linux and macOS. The README does not mention native Windows support.

What are the system requirements?

It requires Qt6. Beyond that, the README doesn't list specific hardware requirements, though the project aims to be reasonably lightweight.

Can I install it without building from source?

Yes. You can download a prebuilt AppImage for Linux or a dmg for macOS from the Releases page, or install it through your Linux distribution's package repository if it's packaged there (Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, and others often include it).

What terminal engine does it use under the hood?

It uses qmltermwidget, a QML port of qtermwidget, which is the terminal emulation component from Konsole.

Can I customize the colors and effects?

Yes. Colors, fonts, and visual effects (like glow and curvature) are configurable through the application's context menu, and it ships with presets like default amber, default green, and an IBM DOS look.

What license is cool-retro-term released under?

The repository metadata does not specify a license, so check the repository directly before relying on it for redistribution or commercial use.

Cool Retro Term: A terminal emulator

cool-retro-term is a terminal emulator for Linux and macOS built on the QML port of qtermwidget (the Konsole engine). It's aimed at developers and terminal users who want a functional shell with the visual flair of an old CRT display, scanlines, glow, screen curvature, and phosphor color included. If you spend a lot of time in a terminal and want something more interesting to look at without giving up basic terminal functionality, this fits.

Key features

CRT emulation: recreates the glow, blur, static, and curvature of old cathode tube screens.
Built on Konsole tech: uses qmltermwidget, a QML port of qtermwidget, so it inherits a mature terminal emulation backend.
Customizable via context menu: colors, fonts, and visual effects are all adjustable without editing config files by hand.
Preset color schemes: ships with looks like default amber, IBM DOS, and default green out of the box.
Cross-platform: runs on both Linux and macOS.
Lightweight design goal: built to be eye-candy without being a resource hog.

Ideal use cases

You want a terminal that looks distinctive for streaming, demos, screen recordings, or just daily use, without sacrificing normal shell functionality.
You like retro computing aesthetics (green phosphor, amber CRT, IBM DOS look) and want them as your actual working terminal.
You're on Linux or macOS and want an easy install path through your distro's package manager or a prebuilt AppImage/dmg.
It's not a good fit if you need a minimal, low-latency terminal for heavy scripting or tmux-heavy workflows where visual effects (glow, blur, curvature) could introduce rendering overhead or distraction.
It's also not the right choice on Windows, since the README only documents Linux and macOS support and Qt6 as a requirement.
If you need a headless or server-side terminal emulator, this is a desktop GUI application, not a fit.

Installation

The simplest path is to grab a prebuilt release:

Go to the Releases page on GitHub.
Download the latest AppImage for Linux or the dmg for macOS.
Run it directly, no build step required.

Many Linux distributions package it already, so you can install via your system package manager. For example, on distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, or Arch, check your package repositories for cool-retro-term.

If you want to build from source, follow the platform-specific instructions in the project wiki:

# General flow (see wiki for exact steps):
# 1. Install Qt6 and required build tools
# 2. Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/Swordfish90/cool-retro-term.git
# 3. Follow the Linux or macOS build guide in the wiki

Qt6 is a hard requirement for building and running the application. Check the wiki pages linked in the README for the full, platform-specific build instructions since exact steps vary between Linux and macOS.