TERMINAL_CONFIG.md

Terminal Configuration

PythonSearch now supports multiple terminal applications for running cli_cmd commands.

Default Terminal

As of this update, iTerm2 is the default terminal application for executing commands.

Supported Terminals

• iTerm2 (default) - Uses AppleScript to create new windows/tabs. Commands are executed via temporary shell scripts to ensure proper handling of special characters.
• Kitty - The original terminal used by PythonSearch with extensive customization options

Switching Terminal Applications

To use a different terminal, add the terminal_app parameter to your PythonSearchConfiguration in entries_main.py:

Use iTerm2 (default)

config = PythonSearchConfiguration(
    entries=entries,
    terminal_app="iterm"  # This is the default, can be omitted
)

Use Kitty

config = PythonSearchConfiguration(
    entries=entries,
    terminal_app="kitty"
)

Notes

• The Search UI (fzf interface) continues to use Kitty regardless of this setting, as it relies on Kitty-specific features
• This configuration only affects commands run via cli_cmd entries
• Both terminals must be installed on your system to use them
• iTerm2 implementation creates temporary shell scripts that self-delete after execution, avoiding complex shell escaping issues

Implementation Details

iTerm2

• Uses AppleScript via osascript to communicate with iTerm2
• Creates temporary executable shell scripts in /tmp for each command
• Scripts automatically clean themselves up after execution
• Tries to create a new tab first, falls back to new window if no window exists
• Supports window titles and "hold terminal open" mode

Kitty

• Uses Kitty's command-line interface with extensive options
• Supports custom window sizing, fonts, and themes
• Provides fine-grained control over terminal behavior