iTerm vs xterm : Which is Better?
iTerm
iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm. Developed by iTerm Project
License: Open Source
xterm
xterm is the standard terminal emulator for the X Window System. A user can have many different invocations of xterm running at once on the same display, each of which provides independent input/output for the process running in it (normally the process is a Unix shell). Developed by Thomas E. Dickey
License: Open Source
iTerm VS xterm
iTerm is a feature-rich terminal emulator for macOS, offering extensive customization options and advanced functionalities like split panes and search. In contrast, xterm is a lightweight, standard terminal emulator for Unix-like systems, prioritizing speed and compatibility over advanced features.
iTerm
Pros:
- Highly customizable with themes and profiles
- Supports split panes for multitasking
- Integrated with macOS features like Touch Bar
- Advanced search functionality
- Supports various protocols like SSH
Cons:
- macOS exclusive
- Can be resource-intensive with heavy customization
- May have a steep learning curve for beginners
xterm
Pros:
- Lightweight and fast
- Works in a variety of environments including remote connections
- Highly configurable through command line options
- Standard terminal for Unix-like systems
- Good compatibility with xterm control sequences
Cons:
- Limited graphical features compared to iTerm
- Does not support tabs natively
- Less user-friendly for novice users
Compare iTerm
