Tilix

Active

gnunn1.github.io

Country: Australia (AU)
Founded: 2016
Developer: Gerald Nunn
Pricing: Free (open-source)
Open source: Yes
Platforms: Linux, FreeBSD, Fedora, Debian, NixOS, Milis Linux

Indexes

Terminal Emulators

Overview

Tilix is an advanced GTK3 tiling terminal emulator designed to adhere to GNOME Human Interface Guidelines. It enables users to split terminals horizontally or vertically within a single window, arrange panes via drag-and-drop, and manage multiple sessions with persistent layouts. The application is primarily used by Linux desktop users who need efficient terminal multiplexing capabilities without relying on command-line multiplexers like tmux or screen.

Key Features

Tiling Layout - Split terminals horizontally or vertically in any arrangement within a single window
Drag and Drop - Rearrange terminals within and between windows, or detach terminals into new windows
Persistent Layouts - Save and restore terminal groupings and session layouts from disk
Synchronized Input - Type commands in one terminal and have them replicated across multiple selected terminals
Custom Profiles - Create multiple profiles with different appearance and function settings, with automatic switching based on hostname, directory, or username
Background Images - Support for transparent backgrounds and custom background images
Quake Mode - Drop-down terminal functionality for quick access
Notifications - Alert users when background processes complete
Custom Hyperlinks - Support for custom titles and clickable hyperlinks within terminal output

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Free	$0	Full access to all features, open-source code available

Platforms & Requirements

Tilix runs on Linux distributions including Fedora, Debian, FreeBSD, NixOS, and Milis Linux. It requires GTK3 and the VTE widget. The application is primarily designed for GNOME desktop environments but functions on other Linux desktop environments. Installation is available through package managers on supported distributions.

Integrations & Ecosystem

VTE GTK+ 3 widget
GNOME Human Interface Guidelines compliance
Fedora notification patches
Custom color scheme files
Session and layout persistence to disk
Automatic profile switching based on system context

Alternatives

App	Difference
GNOME Terminal	Simpler, single-pane terminal without tiling capabilities; lighter resource usage
Konsole	KDE-based terminal emulator with tiling support; better suited for KDE Plasma environments
Terminator	Python-based tiling terminal with similar layout features but different architecture and maintenance status
tmux	Command-line multiplexer requiring terminal configuration; more portable across systems but steeper learning curve

Reputation

Tilix is recognized as a powerful and flexible terminal emulator for Linux desktop users seeking graphical tiling capabilities. It was featured as one of the top new features in Fedora 26 and is praised for its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and profile management system. The application maintains active development and benefits from strong integration with GNOME standards. Some users note that it requires patched VTE for certain experimental features like triggers and badges, and its functionality is primarily limited to Linux desktop environments.

Sources (8)