Terminal emulators are the unsung heroes of Linux productivity. Most of us settle for the default gnome-terminal or a lightweight xterm, while power users have their favorites like Kitty, Alacritty, or Tilix. I've been a loyal Kitty user for years, but a new Rust-based terminal called Ratty recently caught my eye. Not because of its blazing speed or modern architecture (though those help), but because it replaces the boring block cursor with a spinning 3D rat. Yes, a rat. It sounds absurd, but this project is a delightful blend of retro aesthetics (inspired by TempleOS) and GPU‑accelerated rendering. Ratty proves that terminals can be both powerful and playful. Here are seven features that make Ratty stand out in the crowded terminal landscape.
1. GPU-Accelerated Rendering
Unlike traditional terminal emulators that rely on CPU‑driven text rendering, Ratty harnesses your graphics card via the Bevy game engine. This means smooth 60 fps animations, real‑time 3D graphics, and zero lag when manipulating complex scenes. The GPU backend also allows for high‑DPI scaling and custom shader effects. While most terminals struggle with even basic emoji rendering, Ratty treats the entire terminal as a canvas ready for modern graphics. This foundation makes all the other eccentric features possible.
2. Customizable 3D Cursor (The Spinning Rat)
The headline feature: Ratty replaces the traditional block or line cursor with a fully 3D‑object cursor. Out‑of‑the‑box, you get a spinning rat that follows your text input. But you can swap it for any 3D model you like—a cube, a spaceship, whatever you load. The cursor is rendered using Ratatui and Bevy, blending game‑engine rendering with standard terminal workflows. It’s not just a gimmick: the 3D cursor makes it visually obvious where you’re typing, especially in crowded buffers. And yes, watching the rat rotate while you code is oddly satisfying.
3. Full 3D Mode (Warp Your Terminal)
Press Ctrl+Alt+Enter and your terminal transforms into a 3D canvas. The flat text becomes a texture on a flexible surface that you can rotate, warp, and bend. You can pull corners, zoom in/out, and view your terminal output from any angle—something no other terminal offers. This mode is perfect for debugging spatial data or just impressing your friends during a live demo. To adjust the warping, use Super+Ctrl+Alt+Up (increase warp) or Super+Ctrl+Alt+Down (decrease). It’s like having a mini 3D modeling environment inside your terminal.
4. Möbius Mode (Twisted Output)
Activate Ctrl+Alt+M to engage Möbius mode. This takes the 3D concept a step further: the terminal surface is twisted into a continuous Möbius strip. As you type, the text wraps around the strip’s single edge, creating a mind‑bending visual effect. While not practical for daily work, it showcases the engine’s capabilities and makes for a great conversation starter. Combined with the 3D cursor, your terminal becomes an interactive art piece.
5. Inline 3D Objects Anchored to Text
Ratty introduces a Graphics Protocol that allows developers to register 3D assets and anchor them to specific text cells. These objects move seamlessly as you scroll or edit. For example, you could have a 3D model of a molecule that follows alongside a chemical formula, or a spinning gear next to a progress indicator. The protocol ensures perfect synchronization between the 2D text and the 3D objects, making it possible to embed interactive models directly into command output. This feature blurs the line between terminal and GUI application.
6. Built-In Image Support
Ratty supports the Kitty Graphics Protocol, which means you can display images directly in the terminal without external tools like catimg or chafa. PNG, JPEG, even animated GIFs render inline. Combined with the 3D features, you can overlay text on images or wrap 2D pictures around 3D surfaces in 3D mode. This makes Ratty a powerful tool for visual feedback during development—think thumbnail previews in a file manager or live graph rendering from data scripts.
7. TempleOS-Inspired Retro Design
The visual aesthetic draws heavy inspiration from TempleOS, the late Terry Davis’s operating system. You get a pixel‑style font, a limited color palette, and a deliberately chunky UI—even though the engine is GPU‑accelerated. This fusion of retro looks with modern performance gives Ratty a unique identity. It’s a terminal that feels like it belongs to an alternate 1990s, yet can render 3D graphics at 60 fps. The design choice isn’t just nostalgic; it keeps the UI simple and focused, reducing visual clutter despite the 3D overlays.
Ratty is still an experimental project—you wouldn’t replace your daily driver terminal with it just yet. But it demonstrates what’s possible when you combine a GPU‑based rendering engine with traditional terminal emulation. Whether you’re a developer who loves pushing boundaries or just someone who wants a rat as a mouse cursor, Ratty is worth trying. Download the source from its GitHub repo, fire it up, and prepare to smile. The future of terminals might be weird, but it’s definitely fun.