alacritty

Open a fast terminal emulator

TLDR

Start a new Alacritty process and create a window

$ alacritty

Start the Alacritty daemon (without creating a window)

$ alacritty --daemon

Create a new window using the already running Alacritty process

$ alacritty msg create-window

Start the shell in a specific directory (also works with alacritty msg create-window)

$ alacritty --working-directory [path/to/directory]

Execute a command in a new Alacritty window (also works with alacritty msg create-window)

$ alacritty [[-e|--command]] [command]

Use an alternative configuration file (defaults to $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/alacritty/alacritty.toml)

$ alacritty --config-file [path/to/config.toml]

SYNOPSIS

alacritty [OPTIONS] [--] [cmd [args]...]

-h, --help
    Prints help information

-V, --version
    Prints version information

-t TITLE, --title TITLE
    Sets window title

-T TITLE, --title-short TITLE
    Sets short window title (icon)

-g FILE, --config-file FILE
    Loads config from specified file

-o KEY[=VALUE], --option KEY[=VALUE]
    Overrides config option from command line

--print-events
    Prints events to stdout and exits

--live-config-reload
    Enables live config reload on file change

--no-live-config-reload
    Disables live config reload

-v... , --verbose...
    Increases logging verbosity (repeat for more)

-q, --quiet
    Sets log level to error only

--ref-test
    Runs ref tests (for development)

--list-fonts
    Lists available fonts and exits

DESCRIPTION

Alacritty is a cross-platform terminal emulator focused on simplicity and performance. It leverages the GPU for rendering, achieving blazing-fast speeds while using minimal resources. Unlike feature-rich terminals, Alacritty omits extras like tabs, splits, or GUI configuration to prioritize speed and customizability.

Users configure it via a TOML or YAML file (typically ~/.config/alacritty/alacritty.toml), specifying fonts, colors, key bindings, window padding, and more. It supports true color, ligatures, and modern terminals standards. Alacritty works on Linux, macOS, and Windows, making it ideal for developers seeking a lightweight, hackable terminal.

Launch with a shell or custom command; pair with tmux or screen for multiplexing. Its minimalism encourages external tools for advanced workflows, ensuring low latency even with heavy workloads like scrolling large outputs.

CAVEATS

No built-in tabs, splits, or GUI config; relies on external tools like tmux. Config file syntax errors cause silent fallback to defaults. High DPI displays may need explicit font scaling in config.

CONFIGURATION

Primary config at ~/.config/alacritty/alacritty.{yml,toml}. Supports sections for window, font, colors, key_bindings. Example:
[window]
padding.x = 10

PERFORMANCE TIPS

Enable GPU rendering via config; use simple fonts like JetBrains Mono. Avoid heavy shell prompts for max speed.

HISTORY

Created in 2016 by developer 'jwilm' (Andrew Gallant) as a Rust-based terminal emphasizing performance over features. Gained popularity for GPU acceleration; now actively maintained by contributors on GitHub with regular releases supporting new standards like sixel graphics.