Tilix – A New GTK 3 Tiling Terminal Emulator for Linux

ByContributor

In the world of Linux and open-source software, terminal emulators are indispensable tools for both casual users and seasoned developers. They facilitate command-line interactions and provide a seamless interface to control your system.

Among the array of terminal emulators, Tilix stands out as a powerful and versatile choice, thanks to its tiling capabilities and extensive customization options.

In this article, we will delve into the features, benefits, and use cases of Tilix, the GTK3-based terminal emulator that’s making waves in the Linux community.

What is Tilix?

Tilix (previously called Terminix – name changed due to a trademark issue) is a tiling terminal emulator that uses a GTK+ 3 widget called VTE (Virtual Terminal Emulator) and was developed using GTK 3 with the aims of conforming to GNOME HIG (Human Interface Guidelines).

Tilix enables you to control multiple terminal sessions within a single window efficiently, which is especially beneficial for multitasking and managing complex workflows from the Linux terminal.

Tilix - Tiling Terminal Emulator
Tilix – Tiling Terminal Emulator

Tilix Key Features

Tilix offers a range of features that make it a popular choice for Linux enthusiasts:

  • Custom titles and hyperlinks are supported in terminals.
  • Terminals can be easily rearranged using drag and drop, whether within the same window or between different windows.
  • Transparent background images are supported.
  • You can arrange terminals in any desired configuration by splitting them horizontally or vertically.
  • The terminal emulator provides notifications for processes that are completed but currently out of view.
  • Terminal grouping can be saved and loaded from disk.
  • It offers input synchronization between terminals, allowing commands typed in one terminal to be replicated in another.
  • Automatic profile switching is supported, based on hostname and directory.
  • Color schemes are stored in files, and custom color schemes can be created in new files.

How to Install Tilix on Linux

Before we proceed with the installation of Tilix on various Linux distributions, let’s first outline the requirements for Tilix to function correctly.

Tilix requires the following libraries to be installed (comes pre-installed on most distributions) to run:

  • GTK 3.18 or later (Tilix 1.8.3 or later, earlier versions supported GTK 3.14).
  • GTK VTE 0.46 or later.
  • dconf.
  • GSettings.
  • Nautilus-Python (Required for Nautilus integration).

Then, we’ll explore the installation steps for different Linux distributions as shown.

Install Tilix on Ubuntu, Debian, and Mint

To install Tilix in Ubuntu, Debian, and Linux Mint, you can use the apt package management commands. Tilix is available in the official repositories for these distributions.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install tilix
tilix

Install Tilix on RHEL Systems

To install Tilix on RHEL-based distributions such as CentOS Stream, Rocky Linux, and Alma Linux, you can use the EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repository, which provides additional packages, including Tilix.

sudo dnf install epel-release
sudo dnf update
sudo dnf install tilix
tilix

Install Tilix on Fedora

To install Tilix on Fedora, you can use the default DNF package manager, as Tilix is available in the official Fedora repositories.

sudo dnf install tilix
tilix

Install Tilix on OpenSUSE

To install Tilix on OpenSUSE, you can use the Zypper package manager, which is the default package manager.

sudo zypper refresh
sudo zypper install tilix
tilix

Install Tilix on Arch Linux

To install Tilix on Arch Linux, you can use the Arch User Repository (AUR) and an AUR helper like yay.

sudo pacman -S yay
yay -S tilix
tilix

Tilix should now be successfully installed and ready to use on your Linux systems.

Tilix Terminal Screenshots

Tilix with Two Horizontal Linux Terminal Windows
Tilix with Two Horizontal Linux Terminal Windows
Tilix with Two Vertical Linux Terminal Windows
Tilix with Two Vertical Linux Terminal Windows
Tilix with One Vertical and Two Horizontal Linux Terminals
Tilix with One Vertical and Two Horizontal Linux Terminals
Tilix with Multiple Linux Terminal Windows
Tilix with Multiple Linux Terminal Windows

How to Uninstall or Remove Tilix Terminal

To uninstall or remove Tilix Terminal from your Linux system, you can use the package manager that you used to install it.

sudo apt remove tilix [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
sudo dnf remove tilix [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
yay -Rns tilix [On Arch Linux]
sudo zypper remvoe tilix [On OpenSUSE]
Conclusion

Tilix is an exceptional GTK3-based tiling terminal emulator that offers both beginner-friendly and advanced features. Its versatility, tiling capabilities, and extensive customization options cater to a broad spectrum of users, from developers and system administrators to everyday Linux enthusiasts.

If you’re looking to enhance your terminal experience and boost productivity, Tilix is a worthy addition to your software toolkit. Give it a try, and you might find yourself wondering how you ever managed without it.

Importantly, for any questions or extra information that you have about Tilix, please use the comment section below, and do not forget to also give us feedback about your experience with it.

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