https://github.com/allisonhere/zellit

Last synced: 5 days ago
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Host: GitHub
URL: https://github.com/allisonhere/zellit
Owner: allisonhere
License: mit
Created: 2026-03-22T14:47:12.000Z (4 months ago)
Default Branch: main
Last Pushed: 2026-06-05T19:16:41.000Z (about 1 month ago)
Last Synced: 2026-06-05T20:08:44.315Z (about 1 month ago)
Language: Rust
Size: 1.31 MB
Stars: 10
Watchers: 0
Forks: 1
Open Issues: 0
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README

          # zellit

> **Previously known as `zellij-bar-theme-config` / `zellij-tab-config`.** Renamed to `zellit` starting with v0.7.0. The old names redirect to this repo. I got tired of remembering and typing zellij-tab-config ;)

A terminal UI for creating, editing, and applying [Zellij](https://zellij.dev) themes. Live preview of your changes across all UI components — tab bar, panes, status bar, tables, lists — before writing anything to disk.

![zellit screenshot](screen.png)

> **New — sidebar navigation.** The element selector is now a single **sidebar tree** on the left, grouped by section (TabBar / Panes / Content / Status). Move through every element with `↑ ↓` (or `j` / `k`), press `1`–`4` to jump straight to a group, and `/` to fuzzy-search any element. Press `A` for an About screen with project links.

## Features

- **Live preview** — see every color change reflected instantly across a full Zellij-layout mockup

- **41 built-in themes** — all official Zellij themes bundled, no extra files needed

- **Per-component theming** — control foreground and background for each UI element independently

- **Dual-mode color picker** — RGB sliders plus an HSL field picker with live HEX/RGB/HSL values

- **Yank / paste / undo** — copy a color, paste it elsewhere, or undo the last change (`y` / `p` / `u`)

- **Theme loader** — fuzzy search, filter by built-in or saved, live preview on scroll

- **Rename / delete** — manage saved themes directly from the loader (`r` / `d`)

- **Save themes** — writes to `~/.config/zellij/themes/` in the correct KDL format

- **Apply to Zellij** — sets `theme ""` in `~/.config/zellij/config.kdl` so Zellij picks it up on next launch

- **In-app self-update** — checks GitHub releases on startup and can replace the binary in place on Linux x86_64 (`U` when an update is available)

- **Help overlay** — press `?` for a full keybinding reference

## Installation

### Prebuilt binary (Linux x86_64)

```sh

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/allisonhere/zellit/main/install-binary.sh | sh

```

### Build from source (all platforms)

Requires `git` and `cargo` ([rustup.rs](https://rustup.rs)).

```sh

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/allisonhere/zellit/main/install-source.sh | sh

```

Both scripts install to `~/.local/bin` by default. Override with `INSTALL_DIR`:

```sh

curl -fsSL ... | INSTALL_DIR=/usr/local/bin sh

```

### Manual install

```sh

git clone https://github.com/allisonhere/zellit.git

cd zellit

cargo build --release

cp target/release/zellit ~/.local/bin/

```

## Usage

```

zellit

```

The app opens a full-terminal preview of a Zellij layout. Use the keyboard to navigate and edit.

### Keybindings

| Key | Action |

|-----|--------|

| `↑ ↓` / `j k` | Move through the sidebar tree of preview elements |

| `1`–`4` | Jump to a group (TabBar / Panes / Content / Status) |

| `/` | Fuzzy-search and jump to any element |

| `Tab` | Toggle FG / BG (not available on pane borders) |

| `c` / `Enter` | Open color picker for the selected color |

| `y` | Yank (copy) current color |

| `p` | Paste yanked color |

| `u` | Undo last color change |

| `s` | Save theme as… (prompts for a name) |

| `l` | Open theme loader |

| `a` | Apply current theme to Zellij |

| `U` | Install the latest released binary when an update is available on Linux x86_64 |

| `?` | Toggle help overlay |

| `A` | About — project credits and links |

| `q` / `Esc` | Quit |

**Color picker:**

| Key | Action |

|-----|--------|

| `Tab` / `Shift + Tab` | Move focus between picker controls |

| `m` | Switch RGB sliders / HSL field |

| `f` | Toggle FG / BG (non-pane elements only) |

| `↑ ↓ ← →` | Nudge the focused control |

| `Shift` / `Alt` with arrows | Coarse / fine nudging |

| `#` | Jump straight to hex editing |

| `Enter` | Edit the focused value field or confirm |

| `Esc` | Cancel |

| `mouse drag` | Drag in the HSL field or lightness slider |

**Theme loader:**

| Key | Action |

|-----|--------|

| `type` | Search — fuzzy filter by name; `Enter` or `↓` to commit and navigate results |

| `↑ ↓` | Navigate themes |

| `Enter` | Load selected theme into editor |

| `a` | Apply selected theme directly to Zellij |

| `b` | Filter: built-in themes only |

| `s` | Filter: saved themes only |

| `r` | Rename selected saved theme |

| `d` | Delete selected saved theme |

| `Esc` | Clear search / cancel |

## Built-in themes

All 41 official Zellij themes are bundled in the binary and available immediately from the theme loader (`l`):

ansi · ao · atelier · ayu-dark · ayu-light · ayu-mirage · blade-runner · catppuccin-frappe · catppuccin-latte · catppuccin-macchiato · catppuccin-mocha · cyber-noir · dayfox · dracula · everforest-dark · everforest-light · flexoki-dark · gruber-darker · gruvbox-dark · gruvbox-light · iceberg-dark · iceberg-light · kanagawa · lucario · menace · molokai-dark · night-owl · nightfox · nord · one-half-dark · onedark · pencil-light · retro-wave · solarized-dark · solarized-light · terafox · tokyo-night · tokyo-night-dark · tokyo-night-light · tokyo-night-storm · vesper

## Theme format

Themes are saved to `~/.config/zellij/themes/.kdl`:

```kdl

themes {

    my-theme {

        ribbon_selected {

            base 30 30 46

            background 137 180 250

            emphasis_0 255 255 255

            emphasis_1 200 200 200

            emphasis_2 150 150 150

            emphasis_3 100 100 100

        }

        // text_unselected, ribbon_unselected, frame_selected, … etc.

    }

}

```

Standard Zellij palette themes (using `fg`, `bg`, `black`, `red`, … keys) are also supported — the loader maps palette colors to components automatically.

## Themeable components

| Component | What it styles |

|-----------|---------------|

| `text_unselected` / `text_selected` | Status-bar text — bare UI text / selection text |

| `ribbon_unselected` / `ribbon_selected` | Tabs and status-bar mode pills |

| `frame_unselected` / `frame_selected` / `frame_highlight` | Pane borders (FG only — border color) |

| `table_title` / `table_cell_unselected` / `table_cell_selected` | Table widgets |

| `list_unselected` / `list_selected` | List widgets |

| `exit_code_success` / `exit_code_error` | Command-pane exit code indicators |

## Requirements

- A terminal with true color support

- Rust stable (only needed if building from source)
ecosyste.ms

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README
