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vtm

> 编程语言
Open source

Text-based desktop environment

3.4K stars0 likes0 views
WebsiteGitHub

About

Text-based desktop environment

vtm

Vtm is a virtual terminal multiplexer delivered as a single executable. It runs identically in native windows or standard consoles, wraps any CLI app, and supports infinite nesting to create a text-based desktop that bridges the gap between TUI and GUI.

Get started

Desktop mode

Run vtm to start the desktop environment.

Terminal mode

Run vtm --run term [<your_shell>] to use vtm as a full-fledged standalone terminal emulator.

Binary connection via SSH

Accessing vtm via SSH using the DirectVT protocol outperforms the classic connection:

vtm ssh user@host vtm

Demos

Check out AnyPlex and VT2D power (Windows only for now):

vtm --run test

HybridTUI (HTUI) app examples (just concepts):

vtm --run calc
vtm --run text
vtm --run gems

Supported platforms

  • Windows
    • Windows 8.1 and later (including Windows Server Core and Windows PE)
  • Unix-like
    • Linux
    • macOS
    • FreeBSD
    • NetBSD
    • OpenBSD
    • ...

Tested Terminals

Currently, rendering into a native GUI window is only available on the Windows platform; on Unix-like platforms, a terminal emulator is required.

Binary downloads

 [](https://github.com/directvt/vtm/releases/latest/download/vtm_linux_x86_64.tar.7z) [](https://github.com/directvt/vtm/releases/latest/download/vtm_linux_arm64.tar.7z) [](https://github.com/directvt/vtm/releases/latest/download/vtm_linux_x86.tar.7z) [](https://github.com/directvt/vtm/releases/latest/download/vtm_linux_arm32.tar.7z)  


Documentation

  • Quickstart
  • Architecture
  • Building from source
  • Command-line options
  • User interface
  • Settings
  • VT2D
  • AnyPlex Protocol

Powered by

  • The Programming Language Lua
  • The FreeType Project
  • HarfBuzz text shaping engine
  • sammycage/lunasvg: SVG rendering and manipulation library in C++
  • nothings/stb: stb single-file public domain libraries for C/C++

GitHub Issues· 21 open

View all on GitHub
  • #968

    Feature request: OSC 8

    Updated Sep 15, 2026
  • #571

    Graphical front-end (GUI-TUI Bridge)

    enhancementGUIUXkeyboardUpdated Sep 15, 2026
  • #961

    Proposal: Add Docker-based development environment

    Updated Jul 21, 2026
  • #954

    X11 support

    Updated Jul 20, 2026
  • #949

    vtm randomly segfaults on manycore system for no apparent reason

    bugUpdated Jul 15, 2026
  • #934

    vtm freezes instantly on startup and becomes unusable

    bugUpdated May 27, 2026
  • #869

    Feature Request: Background Mode Terminal

    Updated Jan 15, 2026
  • #845

    Feature Request: Built-In Updater

    Updated Nov 19, 2025
  • #756

    Feature request: Settings manager

    enhancementUpdated Jul 27, 2025
  • #769

    Feature request: Clipboard manager

    enhancementUpdated Jul 27, 2025

Highlights

  • •Windows 8.1 and later (including Windows Server Core and Windows PE)
  • •Unix-like
  • •Quickstart
  • •Architecture
  • •Building from source
  • •Command-line options
  • •User interface
  • •Settings
  • •AnyPlex Protocol
  • •The Programming Language Lua

> Tags

C++desktop-environmenthtuihybrid-tuimultiplexer

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> Details

PublishedAug 1, 2026
UpdatedSep 17, 2026
Category编程语言
PricingOpen source

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