TermDock

Free plan LinuxMac

What TermDock is

TermDock is a free, MIT-licensed terminal multiplexer for Linux and macOS. It splits shells into panes and keeps sessions available after detaching, including when an SSH connection is lost. Written in Go, it manages its own pseudo-terminals and VT100 emulator instead of depending on tmux or screen. After a crash or reboot, it snapshots the pane layout, working directories, and last 200 lines from each pane. Recovery restores the layout and screen text, but not running processes or their state. Navigation includes a fuzzy jump picker with live previews, a live pane overview, and search across pane scrollbacks. A floating popup terminal, pane logging, and saved layouts are also included. Optional shell integration records prompts, commands, and output for history, copying, and a session timeline. Read-only observers can watch shared sessions without typing or resizing. A scripting CLI supports pane and window commands, while settings can change during a live session.

Who it suits

It suits terminal users who want persistent split-pane sessions after closing a terminal or losing SSH access. Linux and macOS users can install packages, archives, or build from source with Go.

What it does well

Free and open source under MIT license
Restores layouts and recent pane text
Fuzzy picker and cross-pane search
Read-only session observers
Scripting CLI for pane control

What to know first

Does not restore running processes after crashes
No session synchronization
No plugin or extension support
Linux and macOS access only

Limits

After a crash, TermDock restores pane layout, working directories, and the last 200 lines of screen text, but not running processes or their state. Persistence is local and sessions are not synchronized.

Getting started

Open the TermDock GitHub repository
Install a native Linux package or macOS archive for your architecture
Build from source with Go on Linux, macOS, or WSL if preferred
Launch TermDock and create split panes or windows
Detach and reattach from another terminal or machine
Enable optional shell integration and configure settings during a session

Verdict

TermDock offers persistent, scriptable terminal sessions with recovery and useful navigation tools. Its recovery scope is limited to layout and screen text, so processes must be restarted after a crash.

Questions

What does TermDock cost?

TermDock is free and open source under the MIT license.

Which systems are supported?

The maker lists Linux and macOS, with access on POSIX systems and WSL. Native Linux packages and macOS archives are available for amd64 and arm64.

Can it recover a session after a crash?

It snapshots layouts, pane directories, and the last 200 lines of each pane. Running processes and their state are not recovered.

Can someone watch a shared session?

Yes. Read-only observers can watch without sending keystrokes or resizing the session.

Does it integrate with shells and scripts?

Optional shell integration records prompts, commands, and output. A scripting CLI provides commands including send-keys, split-window, new-window, and select-pane.

Is TermDock based on tmux or screen?

No. It is written in Go and manages its own pseudo-terminals and VT100 emulator.

Facts from TermDock's own pages

Command history: Optional shell integration records prompts and commands for session-wide command history, command output copying, and a session timeline. · padovanl.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Command tracking: Optional shell integration records prompts, commands, and output, enabling command history, command output copying, and a session timeline. · padovanl.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Configuration: Settings can be changed during a live session and saved to a config file on request; the product also includes a doctor command that reports setup issues and suggested fixes. · padovanl.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Implementation: It is written in Go and manages its own pseudo-terminals and VT100 emulator without relying on tmux or screen. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Installation: The project also documents building from source with Go on Linux, macOS, or WSL. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Integrations: It provides a scripting CLI for commands such as send-keys, split-window, new-window, and select-pane, and its status bar can show a Git branch. · padovanl.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Intended users: The maker describes TermDock for terminal users who want to keep sessions running after closing a terminal or losing an SSH connection. · padovanl.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
License: The repository identifies the project as MIT licensed. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Limit: After a crash, TermDock restores the layout and screen text but does not recover running processes or their state. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Navigation: Features include a fuzzy jump picker with live previews, a live overview of panes, and search across pane scrollbacks. · padovanl.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Pane tools: Features include a fuzzy jump picker, live pane overview, cross-pane scrollback search, floating popup terminal, pane logging, and saved layouts. · padovanl.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Platforms: The maker lists native Linux packages and macOS archives for amd64 and arm64. · padovanl.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Product: TermDock is a terminal multiplexer for running shells in split panes and detaching from persistent sessions. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Remote access: Users can detach and reattach from another terminal or machine, and attach in read-only observer mode for screen sharing. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Remote sharing: It supports read-only observers who can watch a shared session without sending keystrokes or resizing it. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Security: The repository documents a server-enforced read-only attach mode; it does not state security certifications or compliance claims on the pages reviewed. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Session recovery: It snapshots session layout, pane working directories, and the last 200 lines of each pane for recovery after a crash or reboot. · padovanl.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Support: The repository links to GitHub Issues for reporting issues and requests. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Supported platforms: The maker lists native Linux packages and macOS archives for amd64 and arm64. · padovanl.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
What it does: TermDock is a terminal multiplexer for splitting a terminal into panes and keeping sessions running after you detach. · padovanl.github.io, 9 Oct 2026

Where TermDock stands on Freedom251

Terminal Multiplexers#26 of 29