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What Hyper is and what it’s built with
Hyper is a terminal emulator that uses web technologies—HTML, CSS and JavaScript—on top of the Electron framework. It aims to make a consistent, cross-platform command-line experience by combining Electron’s desktop app capabilities with standard web stacks.
Core capabilities and distinguishing traits
- Runs on Electron, so it inherits cross-platform desktop app support while integrating front-end styling with CSS.
- Supports multiple panes and keyboard-driven pane management, making it simple to view several shells side-by-side.
- Can open web content directly from the command line, a behavior not commonly found in many other Electron-based terminals.
- Both the user interface and the backend behavior can be modified, allowing deep customization at many points in the application.
Extending Hyper
Hyper’s add-ons are implemented as Node.js packages that hook into the application lifecycle. Extensions are loaded by Electron within the renderer context, which means adding features typically requires comfort with web development practices (JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Node.js). The extension system is intended to let users add new functionality or alter existing behavior rather than relying on a fixed set of built-in tools.
Other tools you might consider
- ConEmu — A Windows-focused terminal emulator with many layout and customization options.
- iTerm2 — A popular choice on macOS that provides advanced terminal features and scripting support.
- Terminal (built-in) — The system-provided terminal available on many OSes, suitable for users who prefer a minimal, native experience.
Final thoughts
Hyper is best suited for developers comfortable with web technologies who want a highly extensible terminal platform. Out of the box it keeps the feature set minimal by design, expecting users to expand its capabilities through extensions and configuration. For people looking for a feature-complete terminal without additional customization, a more fully fleshed-out alternative may be a better fit.
Technical
- Android
- Windows
- Mac
- Portuguese
- Portuguese
- Free
