- Home
- Terminal Emulators
- Cool Retro Term
Cool Retro Term
Albuzzano, Italy
What it is
Cool Retro Term is a free, open-source terminal emulator for Linux and macOS that gives terminal sessions the appearance of cathode tube screens. The project describes it as customizable and reasonably lightweight. Its context menu provides controls for colors, fonts, and visual effects. Community theme profiles include flickering, scanline rasterization, screen curvature, static noise, and burn-in, and the project wiki invites users to share themes and includes JSON examples. Release notes list multiple tabs and windows, along with shortcuts for managing tabs. Cool Retro Term uses the QML port of qtermwidget, a terminal widget based on Konsole. Linux users can download an AppImage from Releases or find the application in repositories for distributions including Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch. macOS users can download a DMG from Releases. The project wiki provides installation and build instructions for both systems, as well as theme guidance and information about the terminal widget. The listed supported platforms are Linux and macOS.
For and against
For
- Free and open-source.
- Context menu offers color, font, and effect settings.
- Community themes include several CRT effects.
- Linux packages include AppImage and distribution repositories.
Against
- Listed platforms are Linux and macOS.
- The Linux build instructions list Qt5 dependencies, while the README requires Qt6.
The verdict
Cool Retro Term pairs a terminal emulator with adjustable CRT-inspired visuals and community themes. It is limited to the listed Linux and macOS platforms, and its documentation describes different Qt requirements for the application and Linux build instructions.
Who it suits
Cool Retro Term suits Linux and macOS users who want a terminal emulator with customizable CRT-style visuals. Its theme guidance may also appeal to users who want to adjust or share visual profiles.
Plans and prices
Free
Linux and macOS desktop terminal emulator · AppImage or DMG releases · distribution packages
Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- API and SDK
- The official README and wiki describe a desktop application and build process but do not document a public API or SDK.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Build requirement
- The README says the application requires Qt6, while the Linux build wiki lists Qt5 dependencies and qmake build instructions.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Configuration format
- An independent repository analysis reports that settings are configured through the GUI and no documented configuration-file format is provided.hysenlabs.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Creator identity
- The Swordfish90 GitHub account identifies the maintainer as Filippo Scognamiglio.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- CRT effects
- Its presentation includes scanlines, phosphor glow, screen curvature, flicker, bloom and burn-in effects.techradar.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Design
- The project describes the emulator as customizable and reasonably lightweight.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Distribution packages
- The README says many distributions, including Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch, package the application in their official repositories.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- Documentation consists mainly of the README, GitHub wiki build pages and release notes.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Download
- The README directs users to download the latest AppImage for Linux or DMG for macOS from Releases.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Frame customization
- The 2.0.0-beta1 release added a frame with customizable size, color and shininess.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Integration
- Cool Retro Term uses the QML port of qtermwidget, a terminal widget based on Konsole.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Keyboard shortcuts
- The 2.0.0-beta2 release notes list tab management shortcuts.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Latest release
- GitHub lists 2.0.0-beta2 as the latest release, published 31 May 2026.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The repository contains GPL-2.0 and GPL-3.0 licence text files, while an independent directory classifies the project as open source under GPL-3.terminaltrove.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: missing functionality
- TechRadar lists lack of functionality as a reason to avoid the application.techradar.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: older Snap package
- It's FOSS warns that the Snap package is older than the version available in distribution repositories.itsfoss.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: resource use
- Softpedia reports that the program is relatively resource-heavy for a terminal emulator.linux.softpedia.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: unsupported features
- Terminal Trove lists no image support, Sixel, Kitty graphics, true color, split panes, shell integration, notifications or built-in multiplexer.terminaltrove.com · read 15 Oct 2026
