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@coffeejoshua
Created November 4, 2025 21:08
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No external requiremnets ghostty macos config

Ghostty config

Install

Just brew install ghostty. Launch it, then choose Ghostty -> Settings. Paste the text into the bottom of the config file and save.

Reload the entire app (using cmd + q), because some changes require it to restart and not just reload the config while running.

Note: This is assuming you've already got a good shell, powerline, and config manager like oh-my-zsh.

Tips

  • The selection is copied automiatcally to the "selection clipboard", not the system one. Paste that with cmd+shift+v and paste from system with cmd+v.
  • Open a new tab with cmd+t, then use it like a web browser.

Why use X setting

Out of the box, Ghostty is close to what I want. Even the default hotkeys are close to what I implemented manually in Kitty.

  • Dimidium was chosen as a science-based theme that puts clarity above looking cool.
  • B612 Mono was designed by google for flight terminals and is easy to read.
  • The macos limitations for tabs is unfortiante and I hope they update it for a better looking tab setup. But the advantage to doing it in the titlebar is vertical space saving, a modern look, and a browser-like experience. You already know how to create, navigate, and manage tabs now.
  • Why not use quick-terminal? Better security, and macos GUI is funky about this in my opinion.
  • Why not desktop notifications, and reduced attention features? ADHD and OCD friendly.
  • Why reduced shell integration, espeically no-cursor? Because you shouldn't be doing this anyway, learn the keys that will work via ssh.
  • Why block cursor all the time? It's the best when editing, plus, it should be the size of 1 monospace char IMO.
  • Why nerf the mouse-shift key? This should always extend the selection, which is what it does when disabled. I use a touchpad and this is an important feature for me.
  • 200 MB scrollback bytes? I have lots of RAM and probably not a lot of tabs, besides it is lazy allocated anyway. I don't like losing scrollback!
# Fonts and theme
theme = Dimidium
font-family = "B612 Mono"
window-title-font-family = "B612 Mono"
font-size = 13.5
font-thicken = true
# App behavior
macos-icon = glass
desktop-notifications = false
auto-update = off
undo-timeout = 0
# Window appearance and behavior (specifically MacOS)
window-show-tab-bar = always
macos-titlebar-style = tabs
window-save-state = always
window-new-tab-position = end
focus-follows-mouse = true
bell-features = no-system, no-audio, no-attention, title, no-border
macos-titlebar-proxy-icon = hidden
# Cursor, selection and movement
shell-integration = detect
shell-integration-features = no-cursor
cursor-style = block
cursor-style-blink = false
cursor-click-to-move = false
mouse-hide-while-typing = true
mouse-shift-capture = never
scrollback-limit = 209715200
# Clipboard and security (selection clipboard, not the system clipboard)
clipboard-paste-protection = true
copy-on-select = clipboard
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