https://github.com/ismail-yilmaz/bobcat
A powerful yet user-friendly cross-platform terminal emulator.
https://github.com/ismail-yilmaz/bobcat
cmd console cpp cross-platform linux macos open-source pty sixel terminal terminal-emulator upp windows windows-console
Last synced: 6 months ago
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A powerful yet user-friendly cross-platform terminal emulator.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/ismail-yilmaz/bobcat
- Owner: ismail-yilmaz
- License: gpl-3.0
- Created: 2023-12-19T13:03:14.000Z (almost 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2025-04-23T21:57:41.000Z (6 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-04-24T07:16:35.893Z (6 months ago)
- Topics: cmd, console, cpp, cross-platform, linux, macos, open-source, pty, sixel, terminal, terminal-emulator, upp, windows, windows-console
- Language: C++
- Homepage:
- Size: 10.5 MB
- Stars: 36
- Watchers: 2
- Forks: 2
- Open Issues: 8
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Funding: .github/FUNDING.yml
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
[](https://opensource.org/licenses/GPL-3)
# Bobcat - Terminal Emulator
Bobcat is a modern, feature-rich terminal emulator that works across all major operating systems. It's built using the [U++](https://www.ultimatepp.org/index.html) framework and [TerminalCtrl](https://github.com/ismail-yilmaz/Terminal) widget to create a powerful yet user-friendly command-line experience.
## Table of Contents
1. [Features](#features)
2. [Requirements](#requirements)
3. [Installation](#installation)
4. [ToDo](#todo)
5. [Screenshots](#screenshots)
6. [Videos](#videos)
7. [Acknowledgements](#acknowledgements)
8. [License](#license)
## Features
*For complete VT feature details, see TerminalCtrl's [features](https://github.com/ismail-yilmaz/Terminal#features) list and technical specs [document](https://github.com/ismail-yilmaz/Terminal/blob/master/Terminal/Specs.md).*
### Core Features
- **Cross-Platform Compatibility:** Runs seamlessly on **Linux, Windows, MacOS, and BSD**, supporting multiple terminal backends with **high VT (DEC/ANSI) and xterm compatibility**.
- **Inline Image Support:** Displays images directly in the terminal with both **Sixel** and modern formats (**PNG, JPG, BMP, TIFF**), supporting multiple protocols such as **iTerm2** and **Jexer**.
- **Advanced Clipboard & Hyperlinks:** Clickable links, **OSC-based clipboard integration**, and extended **(rich-)text annotations** for a modern workflow.
- **Smart Shell Integration:** Tracks working directories and allows opening them in the system's default file manager via shortcuts or menus.
- **Versatile Text Selection:** **Selector mode** with keyboard-driven selection, **customizable regex-based patterns**, and support for rectangular, word, and line selections.
- **Full Mouse & Keyboard Support:** Works across **all major protocols**, with **customizable key bindings** for a tailored experience.
### Powerful Tools
- **Finder Search Engine:** A robust text search tool with **case-sensitive/insensitive modes**, **regex search**, and **CSV extraction** via **Harvester Mode**, preserving structured data integrity.
- **Linkifier:** Instantly turns text into **clickable hyperlinks** using **custom regex patterns**, adaptable per terminal profile.
- **QuickText:** Maintain a list of frequently used commands and snippets for fast insertion with a keyboard shortcut.
### Customization & Interface
- **Multiple Profiles:** Configure different terminal settings and **color schemes** for various tasks.
- **Minimal vs. Full UI:** Choose between a lightweight or fully-featured interface with a **stacked terminal manager** for easy navigation.
- **Simple Configuration:** JSON-based configuration with **real-time updates**, or use a **GUI settings panel**—no manual file editing required.
### Windows-Specific Features
- **Multiple Pty Backends:** Supports both **ConPty** and **WinPty**, with runtime switching for maximum flexibility.
- **Standalone Compatibility:** Works without external dependencies like **msys2** or **cygwin**, but remains compatible with them.
### Experimental Features
- **Web Terminal Access:** Run the terminal in a **modern web browser** via **HTML5 Canvas**, enabling remote access.
- **Headless Mode:** Operates on minimal setups via an **SDL2-GL backend**, eliminating GUI dependencies.
And yes—**it can run Doom!** 🎮
## Requirements
Bobcat has minimal requirements. You'll need:
- CLANG/GCC (C++17 or later)
- [U++](https://www.ultimatepp.org) framework
- [TerminalCtrl](https://github.com/ismail-yilmaz/Terminal)
- [StackCtrl](https://github.com/ismail-yilmaz/StackCtrl)
- [MessageCtrl](https://github.com/ismail-yilmaz/MessageCtrl)
## Installation
You can install Bobcat in several ways:
### 1. Via UppHub (Recommended)
- Available through [UppHub](https://www.ultimatepp.org/app$ide$UppHub_en-us.html), U++'s package manager
- Requires TheIDE (U++'s development environment)
- Windows: Included in U++ installer
- Linux: Available via [Flathub](https://flathub.org/apps/org.ultimatepp.TheIDE) or manual build
### 2. Using Make (Linux)
- Uses pre-compiled umk (U++ make) for faster builds:
1. `make download`
2. `make build` or `make build-web` or `make build-headless`
3. `make run`
### 3. Manual Setup
- Clone or download the repository and set up as a U++ assembly/nest. See the U++ [documentation](https://www.ultimatepp.org/app$ide$PackagesAssembliesAndNests$en-us.html) for details.
### 4. AUR package (ArchLinux):
- There is an [AUR package](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/bobcat-terminal-git) for Bobcat. Use your favorite AUR installer, to download, compile and install it. E.g:
```
# yay -S bobcat-terminal-git
```
### 5. Binary installation (Windows)
- Release page always contains an up-to-date link to the compiled Windows binaries of Bobcat. Download the archive file, unpack it and enjoy!
## [ToDo](#todo)
- Macro infrastructure, based on Upp::Esc scripting language.
- A "lite" plugin framework.
## [Screenshots](#Screenshots)
Below you can find a handful of screenshots of Bobcat, running on Linux & Windows.
Bobcat on Linux
Bobcat on Windows
Bobcat, running zellij, with a background image of well..., a bobcat!
Bobcat, running yazi, in borderless mode on Linux.
Bobcat, running yazi with image preview feature on Windows
Bobcat, running Neovim on Windows
Multiple terminal profile support (linux, btop)
Inline images support (linux, jexer)
Navigator (linux)
Finder, in regex-based search mode (linux)
Harvester, harvesting 124660 URLs from the buffer, and mapping them into a csv file (linux)
Settings windows (linux)
Far manager running on Bobcat (Windows 10)
Bobcat deployed as a simple web server with access from web browsers (Linux)
Bobcat deployed as a simple web server with access from web browsers (Windows)
Bobcat running "headless" on SDL2 (GL) backend (Linux)
Doom, running on Bobcat, via [mochadoom](https://github.com/AutumnMeowMeow/mochadoom) (Linux)
## [Videos](#Videos)
A very short [demonstration](https://vimeo.com/999236026) of Bobcat, running DOOM!
A very short [demonstration](https://vimeo.com/1003353669?share=copy) of finder/harvester and unicode character (emoji) input.
## [Acknowledgements](#Acknowledgements)
To be written...
## [License](#License)
Copyright (c) 2023-2025, İsmail Yılmaz
Bobcat is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
Bobcat is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for details. You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with Bobcat. If not, see [gnu licenses](http://www.gnu.org/licenses/)