iTerm: A Powerful Terminal for macOS

Enhancing the OS X Terminal Experience with iTerm

As a seasoned command-line user, I found the standard terminal application in OS X to be somewhat restrictive, particularly concerning the absence of tab support. While the release of Leopard was anticipated to address this limitation, waiting proved impractical.

A swift online search led me to iTerm, a remarkably capable application that has quickly become an indispensable tool in my workflow.

Visual Customization and Transparency

Observing the screenshot closely reveals the adjustable transparency feature, which I’ve personally configured to 10%. The color scheme is also fully customizable.

Although I favor a green-on-black aesthetic, the default configuration is readily available for use.

Right-clicking within the terminal interface provides convenient access to previously saved "bookmarks."

Bookmarks and Tab Management

Alternatively, the command-shift-B shortcut opens a side panel displaying these bookmarks. However, I am still exploring methods for launching them directly via keyboard commands.

New tabs can be initiated using the cmd+T shortcut, though they will initially utilize your default session settings.

Preferences and Appearance

The preferences section offers a wide array of options for modifying the visual aspects of tabs.

It’s important to note that a restart of iTerm is required to fully implement these changes, despite the initial appearance of immediate application.

Full Screen Capability

A particularly noteworthy feature is the inclusion of a full-screen mode.

This functionality was an unexpected, yet welcome, addition to the application’s capabilities.

Further Exploration

iTerm boasts a multitude of additional features that warrant investigation.

You can obtain the application by downloading it from SourceForge.