# Show HN: Neptune, a free and open-source terminal built in Rust

> Source: <https://github.com/zevem/neptune>
> Published: 2026-10-07 07:31:45+00:00

[neptune.rs](https://neptune.rs) · [Downloads](https://neptune.rs/download) · [User guide](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/usage.md)

A native Rust terminal for focused work, inspired by cmux and Ghostty. Independent shell sessions, GPU rendering, and a quiet workspace interface, with no webview.

- Workspaces, tabs, split panes, and groups with drag-and-drop organization.
- Local shells and SSH workspaces backed by real PTY sessions.
- Scrollback, terminal search, selection/clipboard, and a command palette.
- [Custom keybindings](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/usage.md#custom-keybindings) configured in TOML.
- 715 built-in themes and custom themes shared by the window and terminal.
- Terminal notifications with optional native desktop banners.
- Saved workspace layouts and directories, plus optional Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, pi and Oh My Pi session resumption on local Unix terminals, where an agent's pull requests appear on its tab with their checks, unresolved review comments and merged state beside the screenshots and files it attaches, and a panel lists which agents are working, idle or waiting for you. Either agent can start the other out of view and work with it.
- [Projects](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/projects.md) : a lead agent that plans work in a chat panel,
starts and follows other agents in their own terminals, keeps shared notes
for them and wakes on schedules or pull request changes while Neptune is
open. Local Unix workspaces, with Claude Code or Codex installed.

Get [published stable builds](https://neptune.rs/download) or
[prereleases](https://neptune.rs/download/beta). See the
[installation guide](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/installation.md) for platform packages, AppImage launch
instructions, and download verification.

Linux is the local verification platform. macOS and Windows need native runtime
verification before a production release; see the
[remaining release gates](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/verification.md#remaining-production-release-gates).

Use the pinned Rust 1.97.1 toolchain through rustup. A graphical desktop and a working graphics driver are required. On Debian/Ubuntu:

```
sudo apt-get install pkg-config libxkbcommon-dev libxkbcommon-x11-0 libwayland-dev libxcb-render0-dev libxcb-shape0-dev libxcb-xfixes0-dev
cargo run --release --locked --bin neptune
```

See [building from source](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/installation.md#build-and-run) for macOS and
Windows prerequisites, executable locations, and desktop integration.

Build job limits, optional compiler caching, and scoped verification are in the
[development guide](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/development.md#development-builds).

| Guide | Contents | 
|---|---|
| [Installation](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/installation.md) | Downloads, source builds, and desktop integration | 
| [User guide](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/usage.md) | Workspaces, SSH, shortcuts, preferences, and restoration | 
| [Configuration example](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/config.example.toml) | Supported settings and defaults | 
| [Notifications](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/notifications.md) | Terminal alerts and coding-agent setup | 
| [Agent sessions](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/agent-sessions.md) | Coding-agent session resumption and activity, locally and on SSH hosts | 
| [Projects](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/projects.md) | A lead agent that runs other agents: chat, shared context, watches, limits and what is stored | 
| [Development](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/development.md) | Build tooling, native inspection, CI, and artifacts | 
| [Architecture](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/architecture.md) ·[Interface design](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/design.md) | Ownership, terminal engine, renderer, and UI direction | 
| [Verification](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/verification.md) ·[Performance](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/performance.md) | Native evidence, release gates, and reproducible measurements | 
| [Releases](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/docs/releases.md) ·[Changelog](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md) | Packaging, signing, updates, and What's New | 
| [Website](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/website/README.md) | The neptune.rs site and download pages | 

Neptune is [MIT licensed](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/LICENSE). Bundled fonts retain their SIL Open Font
License notices; third-party dependencies and vendored development skills retain
their respective licenses. See [third-party notices](https://github.com/zevem/neptune/blob/main/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.md) for
skill attribution and the full upstream license texts.