# Tilix — Tiling Terminal Emulator for Linux

> Tilix is a free, open-source tiling terminal emulator for Linux that uses GTK+ 3 and VTE to provide multiple terminal panes in a single window with advanced features like synchronized input and Quake-style dropdown mode.

## Install

Save in your project root:

# Tilix — Tiling Terminal Emulator for Linux

## Quick Use
```bash
# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt install tilix
# Fedora
sudo dnf install tilix
# Arch
sudo pacman -S tilix
```

## Introduction
Tilix is a tiling terminal emulator built for Linux desktops that lets developers split a single window into multiple terminal panes arranged in a grid. It integrates with the GNOME desktop environment and uses VTE for rendering, delivering a polished experience for multitasking on the command line.

## What Tilix Does
- Splits terminals horizontally and vertically within a single window
- Synchronizes keyboard input across multiple panes simultaneously
- Provides Quake-style dropdown terminal mode activated by a hotkey
- Supports multiple sessions with tab-based navigation
- Integrates with the system shell for directory tracking and smart links

## Architecture Overview
Tilix is written in D (Dlang) and uses GTK+ 3 for its interface and VTE for terminal emulation. The tiling layout engine manages pane creation, resizing, and drag-and-drop rearrangement. Sessions are serialized to disk for bookmark and layout persistence. D-Bus integration enables scripting and external control.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Available in official repositories for most major Linux distributions
- Customize profiles with per-profile fonts, colors, and shell commands
- Configure keyboard shortcuts for splitting, navigating, and closing panes
- Set up session bookmarks to restore complex layouts on startup
- Quake mode is toggled via a configurable system-wide hotkey

## Key Features
- Tiling layout with drag-and-drop pane rearrangement
- Synchronized input to type in all panes at once
- Quake-style dropdown mode with configurable hotkey
- Custom color schemes and per-profile settings
- Smart copy with automatic URL and path detection

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **tmux** — terminal multiplexer that runs inside any terminal; Tilix provides a native GUI tiling experience
- **Terminator** — similar tiling concept but uses GTK+ 2; Tilix is GTK+ 3 with a more modern look
- **Kitty** — GPU-rendered and fast; Tilix focuses on tiling UX over raw rendering speed
- **Zellij** — Rust-based terminal workspace; Tilix is a standalone GUI app, not a shell-based multiplexer
- **GNOME Terminal** — the default GNOME terminal; Tilix adds tiling and synchronized input

## FAQ
**Q: Does Tilix work outside GNOME?**
A: Yes. Tilix runs on any Linux desktop, though some features like D-Bus integration work best with GNOME.

**Q: Can I synchronize typing across panes?**
A: Yes. Toggle synchronized input to send keystrokes to all visible panes simultaneously.

**Q: How does Quake mode work?**
A: Press a system-wide hotkey and a terminal drops down from the top of the screen. Press again to hide it.

**Q: Is Tilix still maintained?**
A: Community maintenance continues. It remains in the official repositories of major distributions.

## Sources
- https://github.com/gnunn1/tilix
- https://gnunn1.github.io/tilix-web/

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