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  "name": "kitty",
  "description": "GPU-accelerated terminal emulator with its own graphics and keyboard protocols, programmable tabs and splits, and Python-based extensions called kittens.",
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  "operatingSystem": "macOS",
  "applicationCategory": "DeveloperApplication",
  "publisher": {
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  "license": "GPL-3.0",
  "offers": {
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    "priceCurrency": "USD"
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    "description": "GPU-accelerated terminal emulator with its own graphics and keyboard protocols, programmable tabs and splits, and Python-based extensions called kittens.",
    "shortDescription": "GPU-accelerated terminal emulator that pioneered the graphics protocol.",
    "answer": "kitty is a terminal emulator that renders with the GPU and SIMD vector CPU instructions, with threaded rendering to keep latency down. Its distinguishing contribution is protocol work: it pioneered the terminal graphics protocol that lets programs draw images and animations in the terminal, and comprehensive keyboard handling, both of which other terminals have since adopted. It also supports ligatures, variable fonts, hyperlinks with configurable actions, programmable tabs, splits and layouts, and browsing long command output in a pager without leaving the window. It is scriptable — controllable from the shell, and extensible with Python plugins the project calls kittens. It runs on macOS, Linux and various BSDs under the GPL version 3. It suits people who live in the terminal and want it to do more.",
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    "featured": false,
    "pricing": "open-source",
    "pricingDescription": "Free and open source. kitty is released under the GNU General Public License version 3.",
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    "website": "https://sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty/",
    "documentation": "https://sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty/overview/",
    "github": "https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty",
    "download": "https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/releases/download/v0.49.2/kitty-0.49.2.dmg",
    "developer": {
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      "Comprehensive keyboard handling, extending the terminal keyboard protocol",
      "Ligatures, emoji via per-glyph font substitution, and variable fonts",
      "Hyperlinks with configurable actions",
      "Programmable tabs, splits and multiple window layouts",
      "Remote control from scripts or the shell",
      "Extensions written in Python, which the project calls kittens",
      "Startup sessions that define a working environment",
      "Browsing the full scrollback or the last command's output in a pager",
      "Editing or downloading remote files inside an existing SSH session"
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      "Running terminal applications that draw images, such as image previews in a file manager",
      "Working in several panes without a separate multiplexer",
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        "text": "Renders with the GPU and SIMD vector CPU instructions, with threaded rendering aimed at minimal latency.",
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        "text": "Pioneered the terminal graphics protocol, letting programs display images and animations.",
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        "text": "Supports programmable tabs, splits and multiple window layouts without a multiplexer.",
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        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
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        "text": "Can be controlled from scripts or the shell and extended with Python plugins.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
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        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
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        "text": "Edits and downloads remote files inside an existing SSH session.",
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        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
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        "text": "Released under the GPL version 3, so the source can be inspected and modified.",
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        "source": "repository",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
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        "text": "There is no Windows build; the project lists macOS, Linux and various BSDs.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Configuration is extensive and file-based, so a comfortable setup takes effort.",
        "status": "derived",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "The minimum macOS version is not published in the sources Nuanyue tracks.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed"
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    "whoIsItFor": [
      "Developers who spend most of their day in a terminal and want it configurable",
      "Users of tools that need the graphics or keyboard protocol extensions kitty introduced"
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    "notFor": [
      "Anyone who wants a terminal that behaves identically to the system default — kitty is highly configurable and expects configuration",
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      "Apple Silicon support is not stated in the sources Nuanyue tracks"
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      "installation": {
        "value": "A macOS disk image is published with each release on the project's repository, and packages exist for Linux and the BSDs.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
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        "value": "Starts with usable defaults; behaviour is then changed through a configuration file rather than a settings window.",
        "status": "derived",
        "source": "documentation",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
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        "status": "developer-stated",
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    "updates": [],
    "faq": [
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        "question": "Is kitty free?",
        "answer": "Yes. kitty is free and open source under the GNU General Public License version 3.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "What is the kitty graphics protocol?",
        "answer": "It is a protocol the project pioneered that lets programs display images and animations inside the terminal rather than only text. Other terminals have since implemented it, which is why terminal applications can rely on it.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Does kitty need tmux for tabs and splits?",
        "answer": "No. kitty provides programmable tabs, splits and multiple window layouts itself, so a multiplexer is not required for panes.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "What are kittens?",
        "answer": "Kittens are extensions to kitty written in Python. They add capabilities such as viewing remote files, choosing fonts, or opening command output in a pager, and can be triggered from the terminal.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
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        "target": "ghostty",
        "type": "similar",
        "reason": "Both are GPU-accelerated terminals that implement the kitty graphics protocol, but Ghostty builds a native UI per platform while kitty ships its own cross-platform toolkit.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "alacritty",
        "type": "similar",
        "reason": "Both render with the GPU and are aimed at performance, but kitty bundles tabs, splits and a graphics protocol while Alacritty deliberately leaves those to other tools.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "iterm2",
        "type": "alternative",
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        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
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        "target": "wezterm",
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        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
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}