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SPECIFICTION
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foot

codeberg.org

Free plan Linux
Visit codeberg.org
Spec score 8.0 #14 of 40 in App launchers

What it is

foot is a free Linux terminal emulator for Wayland, with native Wayland support and no dependence on a particular desktop environment. Its server mode lets multiple terminal windows share one process, fonts, and glyph cache. Display features include configurable font fallback, on-the-fly font and DPI adjustment, color emoji, true color, and Sixel images. Users can search scrollback and detect URLs with the keyboard. The feature list also includes SSH support, scripting, text input through text-input-v3, and multi-seat support. Shell integration can open new terminals in the current working directory when the shell supports OSC 7; OSC 133 enables prompt navigation. URLs open with xdg-open by default, and the command can be changed in configuration. Configuration uses a foot.ini file in the user's XDG configuration directory. Installation guidance describes building with Meson and Ninja, with Wayland protocols and ncurses among the requirements. The project says foot is MIT-licensed. Its installation guide notes that full PGO builds using the real binary must run in a Wayland session.

Spec sheet

What it does
foot is a fast, lightweight, minimalistic Wayland terminal emulator.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · ci.codeberg.org
Support
The project directs bug reports to its issue tracker and invites questions in the #foot IRC channel on Libera.Chat.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The project states that foot is released under the MIT license.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Build and install
The installation guide describes building with Meson and Ninja and lists Wayland protocols and ncurses among build requirements.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Configuration
The README describes configuration through a foot.ini file under the user's XDG configuration directory.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
GPU acceleration
NoRead 20 Sep 2026 · ci.codeberg.org
Input
The feature list includes input method support via text-input-v3 and multi-seat support.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Native support
The project lists native Wayland support and says it is desktop-environment agnostic.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Navigation
foot provides scrollback search and keyboard-driven URL detection.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Notable requirement
foot is a Wayland terminal emulator, and its installation guide says full PGO builds using the real binary must run in a Wayland session.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Scripting API
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · ci.codeberg.org
Server mode
Server mode lets multiple terminal windows share one process, fonts, and glyph cache.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Shell integration
With shell support for OSC 7, new terminals can open in the current working directory; OSC 133 enables prompt navigation.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Split panes
NoRead 20 Sep 2026 · ci.codeberg.org
SSH support
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · ci.codeberg.org
Supported platforms
linuxRead 20 Sep 2026 · ci.codeberg.org
Text and display
Features include configurable font fallback, on-the-fly font and DPI adjustment, color emoji, true color, and Sixel images.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
URL handling
URL launch uses xdg-open by default, and the launch command can be changed in configuration.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

foot Free Wayland terminal emulator · MIT license Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every foot plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Native Wayland support; desktop-environment agnostic.
  • Server mode shares process, fonts, and glyph cache.
  • Includes scrollback search and keyboard-driven URL detection.
  • MIT-licensed and free.

Limits

  • Available for Linux only.
  • Installation guidance requires building with Meson and Ninja.
  • Full PGO builds using the real binary require a Wayland session.

Who it suits

foot suits Linux users who want a Wayland-native terminal emulator with configurable display and shell-integration features. It is suited to users comfortable with the project's documented build requirements.

Verdict

foot provides a focused set of terminal, display, and shell-integration features for Wayland on Linux. Building it involves documented dependencies, and full PGO builds have an additional Wayland-session requirement.

Where Specifiction places it

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