Cool-retro-term: terminal emulator which mimics look and feel of CRTs

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Authenticity of the CRT Emulation

  • Many feel the default effects (ghosting, bloom, slow phosphor fade) are exaggerated and not representative of most real CRTs; described as a caricature rather than an accurate simulation.
  • The slow-moving horizontal bar is called out as a filming artifact, not something you normally saw with your eyes.
  • Others note that some long-persistence or abused “security desk”–style CRTs did look messy, and memories differ by era and hardware quality.
  • There’s broad agreement that CRTs had major variation, and that late high-end CRTs actually beat cheap modern LCDs in color, viewing angles, and refresh.

Eye Strain, Ergonomics, and Accessibility

  • Several commenters say the blur and bloom make them tire quickly and squint; they much prefer modern crisp terminals for real work.
  • CRT flicker is remembered as the most unbearable aspect; one anecdote ties it to photosensitive epilepsy and illness.
  • Others find light noise/grain or subtle effects make text easier on the eyes, or help mask existing vision issues.
  • Amber/green phosphors are discussed: amber and green were believed to be more eye-friendly, though the evidence is described as partly pseudoscientific.

Use Cases and Practicality

  • Common sentiment: fun as a novelty, not for daily use. Some report past versions pegging CPU; others now see only modest GPU-assisted usage.
  • A few used it seriously, toning down effects and color-coding terminals by role (backends, OS types, etc.).
  • Missing features cited: tabs, reliable 80×24 sizing, sixel graphics, instant-feeling key response, good Unicode rendering.

Shaders, Integrations, and Alternatives

  • Multiple people would rather see CRT-style shaders applied at the compositor/window level so any terminal or app can get the effect.
  • Ghostty is highlighted: supports GLSL shaders, stacking effects (cursor trails, “starfield” space backgrounds, etc.), though full previous-frame access is sometimes lacking.
  • Other options mentioned: Hyprland and picom shaders, XScreenSaver’s “Phosphor,” and the idea of Wayland-wide shader support.

Nostalgia vs. Modern Comfort

  • Some love the mood boost and retro vibes (including fonts like old Sun console or Monaco) and schedule reminders to use it.
  • Others are emphatic that they paid to escape CRT distortions and noise and don’t want them back, even if they appreciate the project for art, games, or film props.