Ghostty Terminal has made a significant shift by adopting a non-profit funding model. This fast, GPU-accelerated, open-source terminal, co-founded by HashiCorp’s Mitchell Hashimoto, is now fiscally sponsored by Hack Club, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This arrangement allows Hack Club to manage donations and financial compliance on behalf of Ghostty, ensuring funds are utilized for the development of the project rather than for personal interests.
Hashimoto argues that infrastructure serving the public should be managed by mission-driven entities rather than commercial ones, as this model fosters trust and facilitates broader adoption. He remains the largest donor to the project and intends to continue in that role, reinforcing the commitment to transparency in funding.
The transition to a non-profit framework might seem redundant for a terminal emulator, but it reflects Hashimoto’s dedication to a user-focused development model. The project continues to be open-sourced, with plans remaining unchanged, emphasizing a consistent goal of enhancing the Ghostty platform—the roadmap includes improved GUI features and the underlying library.
Ghostty is renowned for its native integration and modern features such as GPU-accelerated rendering, split panes, and a focus on usability across operating systems. Built using Zig, it distinguishes itself from competitors by prioritizing performance and a native feel over feature bloat. While many Linux users have a plethora of terminal options, Ghostty’s cross-platform appeal stands out, particularly for macOS and Windows users.
As part of this transition, Hashimoto will retain control over project decisions while the new structure paves the way for future growth, independent of its founder. The non-profit status provides peace of mind that the project will not be ensnared in monetization pressures from potential investors.
You can download Ghostty for macOS or build it from source for Linux, with community support available for various distributions. The terminal’s commitment to respecting platform-specific designs and functionality solidifies its place in the ever-evolving landscape of developer tools.