Lios Terminal Docs

lios is tracked from the Tknott95 crates.io catalog because it is above the 64-download threshold. Current tracked version is 0.1.38, with 515 downloads across 29 versions.

crates.io: https://crates.io/crates/lios

Docs index: https://docs.rs/crate/lios/latest

API docs: https://docs.rs/lios/latest/lios/

Cargo source: https://docs.rs/crate/lios/latest/source/

Keep public site links pointed to crates.io/docs.rs while backend-published formal docs are prepared.

crates.io categories: command-line-utilities, gui.

crates.io keywords: emulator, gtk4, sixel, terminal, vte.

docs.rs package facts: source code size 2.77 MB; latest docs.rs page marks lios as not a library.

docs.rs dependencies: gtk4, serde, toml, toml_edit, and vte4.

Lios is a polished Rust GTK4/VTE terminal emulator by KnottDynamics and Trevor Knott.

It uses VTE for terminal correctness instead of a toy parser, keeps Cairo as the reliable default renderer, and exposes opt-in GTK auto/OpenGL/Vulkan renderer modes through GSK_RENDERER before GTK starts.

The core is intentionally small: SSH and related workflows belong in optional lios-* helpers, while Lios focuses on terminal reliability, themes, glass/background controls, config, and desktop integration.

System dependencies: Rust plus GTK4/VTE libraries and headers.

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt install pkg-config libgtk-4-dev libvte-2.91-gtk4-dev

Arch:

sudo pacman -S rust pkgconf gtk4 vte4

Install from crates.io:

cargo install lios

Run:

lios

Common launch forms:

lios --working-directory "$HOME"
lios -- htop
lios --command "ls -la"
lios --theme solarized-dark
lios --gpu-mode vulkan
lios --renderer gl
lios --opacity 0.88
lios --hide-titlebar.

• GTK4 window with VTE terminal widget that spawns $SHELL with Unix shell fallbacks.
• Built-in themes: xfce, xterm, green-on-black, white-on-black, dark-pastels, solarized-dark, solarized-light, and black-on-white.
• Master/full-window opacity, image opacity, terminal shade opacity, accent opacity, background image support, fixed/random accent tint, and packaged first-launch background image.
• Ctrl+Shift+N and New Window open another terminal in the active terminal directory using current live settings.
• Right-click menus cover copy/paste/select all, diagnostics, appearance, background image controls, terminal shade, accent presets, random tint, and theme switching.
• Desktop launcher install/uninstall writes the .desktop file and icon into the user application/icon locations.

Default config path: ~/.config/lios/config.toml. Use --config path/to/config.toml for another file.

window.renderer accepts cairo, auto, gl, or vulkan. Cairo is the reliable default; renderer changes are saved and apply next launch.

Useful config commands:

lios config path
lios config sample
lios config init
lios config show
lios config set gpu on
lios config set gpu_mode vulkan
lios config set theme solarized-dark
lios config set opacity 0.88
lios config set background.image ~/Pictures/wallpaper.jpg
lios config set topbar false.

Resource policy: bounded scrollback, weak GTK references for callbacks that outlive windows, no Tokio tasks/channels, and VTE-owned child processes tied to widget/window lifecycle.