Xterm

xterm

xterm is the standard terminal emulator for the X Window System. It helps users run programs that need a command-line interface. When you open xterm without choosing a specific program, it starts your usual shell.

Multiple people can use xterm at the same time on one screen, with each person having their own window.

Each xterm window works as its own separate process, but they all share the same keyboard.

XTerm was created before the X Window System even existed. It was first made for a machine called the VAXStation 100 by a student named Mark Vandevoorde in 1984. Later, it became part of the X Window System, where it has stayed ever since. Today, xterm is maintained by a developer named Thomas Dickey. Many other terminal programs are based on xterm.

Features

Xterm can look like many old computer screens, such as the VT102, Tektronix 4014, VT220, VT320, VT420, and VT520.

You can change how xterm looks and works using special setting files or commands. It usually doesn’t show a menu bar, but you can access menus by holding down the control key and pressing mouse buttons.

Xterm follows standard rules for showing text on a screen. It also supports special features like mouse tracking and different colors. It started with simple fonts and later added support for more modern ones.