Freedom251 › Terminal Emulators
st
What st is
st is a free Linux terminal implementation for X, intended to provide a working graphical terminal for terminal applications. Its emulation covers most VT10X escape sequences, serial lines, XIM, utmp through utmp(1), and clipboard handling. Text support includes UTF-8, wide characters, 256 colors, true colors, antialiased fonts, fallback fonts, and line drawing. Mouse and keyboard shortcuts can be configured in config.h, with defaults kept in config.def.h. Community patches provide optional changes and additions. The project is actively developed and offers a Git repository to browse or clone. The download page lists st 0.9.3, dated 2025-08-09, with a 48kb download, and links to a LICENSE file. st explicitly does not aim to reimplement tmux or provide unlimited scrollback. The project is associated with suckless.org e.V., a registered association in München, Germany. Its listed plan is free.
Who it suits
st suits Linux users who want a small graphical terminal for terminal applications. It fits users comfortable configuring software through source files and optional community patches.
What it does well
- Free Linux terminal for X
- Supports UTF-8 and wide characters
- 256 colors and true colors
- Configurable shortcuts in config.h
- Actively developed Git repository
What to know first
- No unlimited scrollback buffer
- Not intended to reimplement tmux
- Configuration uses source headers
- Linux platform only
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| st | Simple terminal implementation for X | Free |
As st.suckless.org lists them, read 5 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
st focuses on a straightforward graphical terminal with broad text and color support. Its deliberately narrow scope excludes tmux behavior and unlimited scrollback, so those needs require other software.
Facts from st's own pages
- Configuration
- Configuration is done in config.h, with defaults stored in config.def.h. · st.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Customization
- The project lists community patches for optional changes and additions to st. · st.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · st.suckless.org, 20 Sept 2026
- Input
- st supports mouse and keyboard shortcuts configured through config.h. · st.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
- License
- The project links a LICENSE file from its download section. · st.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The suckless.org e.V. is described as a registered association in München, Germany, founded by eight conference attendees at slcon 2. · ev.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Project goal
- The stated goal is a working graphical terminal for terminal applications. · st.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- st is a simple terminal implementation for X. · st.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Release
- The download page lists st 0.9.3, dated 2025-08-09, with a size of 48kb. · st.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Scope limit
- The project says st is not intended to reimplement tmux and does not aim to provide an unlimited scrollback buffer. · st.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Security
- The project page lists terminal features but makes no security or compliance claim. · st.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Source access
- The project describes st as actively developed and provides a Git repository users can browse or clone. · st.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Terminal emulation
- Implemented features include most VT10X escape sequences, serial line support, XIM support, utmp via utmp(1), and clipboard handling. · st.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Text and colors
- st supports UTF-8, wide characters, 256 colors, true colors, antialiased fonts, fallback fonts, and line drawing. · st.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
Where st stands on Freedom251
- Terminal Emulators#29 of 40
- Terminal apps#37 of 41