{"id":98221,"date":"2026-03-20T14:28:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T19:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=98221"},"modified":"2026-03-20T14:28:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T19:28:37","slug":"coolretroterm-brings-80s-vibes-to-your-modern-mac-terminal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/98221-coolretroterm-brings-80s-vibes-to-your-modern-mac-terminal\/","title":{"rendered":"CoolRetroTerm Brings 80\u2019s Vibes to Your Modern Mac Terminal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When I think back to the 80s, several things come to mind: MTV<\/em>, big<\/em> hair<\/em>, tube<\/em> tops<\/em>, arcades<\/em>, Walkmans<\/em> and (who can forget) the Rubik\u2019s<\/em> Cube<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 80\u2019s were notable for another cultural shift: home computing.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My earliest memories of using a home computer involved staring at a tiny 12 inch cathode ray tube (CRT) and typing arcane commands. Displays such as these could only display green or amber colors, and would often flicker (or occasionally jitter).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As imperfect as that experience might seem now, in light of modern 4K, 5K and even 6K displays, I have a lot of fond memories attached to my first few years of computing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If, like me, you wax nostalgic about the \u201cgood old days\u201d of computing, where text-based interfaces ruled supreme, you might take some delight with this week\u2019s software pick: CoolRetroTerm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
CoolRetroTerm lets you experience the 80’s by way of its terminal emulators. I’m running the command line tool btm<\/strong> to display my Mac’s CPU, memory, and Network stats.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

CoolRetroTerm is a terminal emulator that mimics the look and feel of the text-based systems of yore, such as those found in early IBM, Apple II, Commodore, and Atari systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a user of many of those computers from that era, CoolRetroTerm\u2019s terminal emulation is downright uncanny. When you first launch it, you\u2019re presented with a terminal window that looks like you\u2019ve been transported right back to 1984.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
CoolRetroTerm with the Apple II Profile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Bask in the glow of the slightly bulbous CRT display! <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

CoolRetroTerm will show you a terminal prompt, complete with periodic scan lines and slight visual distortion, with a bordered edge that accurately resembles its physical analog counterpart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
CoolRetroTerm offers several terminal emulators, each listed as its own Profile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

CoolRetroTerm does a fantastic job of emulating early text-based systems, right down to the slight shimmer of undulating text. But unlike an actual CRT, where your adjustments are limited to twirling a few rotary knobs, each aspect of the CoolRetroTerm\u2019s visuals can be fully customized — for a truly bespoke look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Just about every visual aspect of CoolRetroTerm can be customized to your liking. Profiles can be exported and imported.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Visual artifacts can be adjusted through sliders. Crank up the burn-in quality to mimic the days of text burn in. (No CRTs were actually harmed.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And speaking of customization, CoolRetroTerm offers 14 terminal \u201cprofiles\u201d to choose from, each which offers a different terminal emulation style. Customizations to an existing profile can be saved, so if you want your Apple II emulation to have red text instead of the supplied green, for example, you can make that happen. Users can even customize the degree of curvature for any of CoolRetroTerm\u2019s profiles. While I like the bulbous look of the CRT, I find myself preferring the flat look, for aesthetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With version 2.0 (beta), CoolRetroTerm also supports tabs. Each tab can have a different emulated look, so you can rock an Atari-based terminal emulator in one window, and an Apple II terminal emulator in the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Amber text, anyone? <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

CoolRetroTerm is not for everyone. If you despise using the Terminal in macOS, this application is not for you. But if you find yourself inside the Terminal daily, and you also wistfully reminisce about your old computer from the 80\u2019s, there\u2019s a lot to love here. For me, CoolRetroTerm isn\u2019t so much about what it does<\/em>, but how I feel<\/em> when I use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CoolRetroTerm is free (donations are welcomed) and available for both Mac and Linux operating systems. Now if you\u2019ll excuse me, I\u2019m off to play some Zork<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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