Cool-retro-term: terminal emulator which mimics look and feel of CRTs
A retro-styled terminal emulator that mimics old CRT monitors is drawing both nostalgia and criticism, with many praising its vibe while noting that the exaggerated ghosting, flicker, and artifacts don’t match how most real CRTs actually looked. Commenters weigh the trade-offs between aesthetic appeal and readability or eye strain, and several note that modern terminals with shader support (like Ghostty or compositor-based effects) can offer similar visuals with more features and less performance impact. The conversation also branches into memories of real hardware, ergonomic myths around amber and green phosphors, and ideas for system-wide CRT-style post-processing on today’s desktops.
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.