# Terminal: every agent, dev server and test run in one split view

> The Tallos terminal is an xterm.js-based terminal built for running AI coding agents side by side. Split any pane right or down, keep a tab layout per workspace, search scrollback with Cmd+F, and quit without losing work: a background service keeps agent processes running, and Tallos restores your splits and scrollback on the next launch.

- Canonical: https://runtallos.com/features/terminal
- Português: https://runtallos.com/pt/recursos/terminal.md
- Updated: 2026-09-29
- Section: Features

## Key facts

- Split right or down, nest splits, mix terminals with diffs and browser tabs
- Agents keep running after you quit Tallos
- Scrollback and layout restore on every launch
- Find in scrollback with case and regex
- PowerShell, Command Prompt or WSL on Windows

## What is the Tallos terminal?

The **Tallos terminal** is a built-in terminal that runs your coding agents, dev servers and test runners in tabs and split panes inside each workspace. It uses xterm.js, the same terminal engine VS Code uses, with additions for agent work.

Agent tabs are not plain shells. Each one shows the agent's identity and its live state: **working**, **waiting for input**, **completed**, or **completed but unread**. When you run five agents at once, you see which one needs you without clicking through every tab. That is the core of [running AI agents in parallel](https://runtallos.com/run-ai-agents-in-parallel).

Supported agents open in a readable [native chat](https://runtallos.com/features/native-chat) view by default. The terminal is always one switch away, and it is where dev servers, test watchers and any other CLI live.

## How do I split terminals and arrange panes?

Split the active terminal with a shortcut, or drag any tab to the edge of a pane. Dropping on the right edge splits left/right; dropping on the bottom edge splits top/bottom. Splits nest, so you can keep an agent on the left, a diff on the top right and a browser tab on the bottom right.

| Action | macOS | Windows |
| --- | --- | --- |
| New terminal tab | `Cmd+T` | `Ctrl+T` |
| Split terminal right | `Cmd+D` | `Ctrl+Shift+D` |
| Split terminal down | `Cmd+Shift+D` | `Alt+Shift+D` |
| Search the active pane | `Cmd+F` | `Ctrl+F` |
| Next / previous tab | `Cmd+Shift+]` / `Cmd+Shift+[` | `Ctrl+Shift+]` / `Ctrl+Shift+[` |
| Previous recent tab | `Ctrl+Tab` | `Ctrl+Tab` |
| Toggle the floating terminal | `Cmd+Option+A` | `Ctrl+Alt+A` |

_Default terminal shortcuts (remap them in Settings → Shortcuts)_

- **Layouts belong to workspaces.** Each [parallel workspace](https://runtallos.com/features/parallel-workspaces) keeps its own pane tree. Switch workspaces and its terminals, diffs and browser tabs come back exactly as you left them.
- **Boundaries stay put.** Resizing the window does not shuffle your panes; boundary positions are saved per workspace.
- **Tabs hold anything.** A tab can be a terminal, an editor file, a browser page, a diff or a pull request.

## What happens to my agents when I quit Tallos?

They keep running. A background service owns the terminal processes, so closing the app does not stop Claude Code, Codex or any other agent mid-task. On the next launch Tallos reattaches to the same processes and restores every open workspace, split, focused tab and the scrollback of each pane, including output produced while the app was closed.

| What happened | Agents | Layout and scrollback |
| --- | --- | --- |
| You quit Tallos (`Cmd+Q`) | Keep running in the background | Restored on next launch |
| Tallos crashed | Keep running in the background | Restored on next launch |
| The computer rebooted or lost power | Stopped; start them again in any tab | Restored from the last saved state |


> **Want a clean slate?** — Tallos always restores. To start fresh, close the workspaces you no longer need before you quit. Closed workspaces stay closed.

## Run your agents side by side

> Open one workspace per task, split the terminal, and watch every agent's state from one window. → https://runtallos.com/signup

## How do I search terminal output and open links?

Press `Cmd+F` (macOS) or `Ctrl+F` (Windows) to search the active pane's scrollback. Matches are highlighted, and you can toggle case sensitivity, use regular expressions and step through results.

- **Link actions.** Clicking a URL, file path, workspace or task handle opens a small popover. Web links can open in the [built-in browser](https://runtallos.com/features/built-in-browser) or your system browser, or be copied. `Cmd`-click (`Ctrl`-click on Windows) opens directly.
- **Copy Context.** Right-click a terminal and choose **Copy Context** to copy a bounded transcript of recent output, ready to paste into another agent or tool.
- **TUI clipboard.** Terminal apps that copy through OSC 52, such as tmux, Neovim or fzf, can write to your clipboard by default, locally and over SSH.

## What makes it a terminal for AI coding agents?

Most terminals were designed for one person running one command. The Tallos terminal is tuned for watching many long-running agents and the tools they start.

- **Real modifier keys.** Tallos speaks the kitty keyboard protocol, so agent TUIs receive real `Shift+Enter` and `Ctrl+Enter` keystrokes, the same as in Ghostty or WezTerm.
- **Quick Commands.** Save commands such as `pnpm dev` or `npm test`, scoped globally or to one project, and run them from the tab bar in a fresh tab. They can also hold reusable prompts for agents like Claude Code and Codex.
- **Floating terminal.** A global shell that is always one shortcut away, whichever workspace you are in.
- **Themes you already use.** Pick from bundled themes, import your Ghostty theme, font and cursor settings, or import themes from Warp.
- **Scriptable.** Agents and scripts can create, split, read, wait on and send input to terminals with the [`tallos` CLI](https://runtallos.com/features/tallos-cli-and-skills).

**Terminal app + tmux (you set it up)**
- You create and name sessions and windows by hand
- Persistence depends on your tmux setup
- You check each pane to see which agent is waiting
- Works anywhere, fully under your control

**Tallos terminal (built in)**
- One pane tree per workspace, created with the task
- Agents survive quitting the app; scrollback restores
- Tab titles show working, waiting, done and unread
- Links open in the workspace browser or system browser

## Does the terminal work on Windows and on remote machines?

Yes. On Windows, choose PowerShell, Command Prompt or WSL as the default shell in Settings → Terminal; WSL appears automatically when it is installed. The **+** menu on the tab bar opens a one-off tab in any shell without changing your default. See [installing Tallos on Windows](https://runtallos.com/learn/install-on-windows).

For bigger jobs, [remote workspaces](https://runtallos.com/features/remote-workspaces) run the same terminals on another machine over SSH. Disconnects do not kill remote agents; Tallos reattaches and replays their output.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I split a terminal in Tallos?

Yes. Press `Cmd+D` to split right or `Cmd+Shift+D` to split down on macOS (`Ctrl+Shift+D` and `Alt+Shift+D` on Windows), or drag a tab to a pane edge. Splits nest as deep as you need.

### Do my Claude Code or Codex sessions stop when I close Tallos?

No. A background service owns the terminal processes, so agents keep running after you quit. Tallos reattaches to them on the next launch. Only a reboot or power loss ends them.

### Does Tallos keep terminal scrollback after a restart?

Yes. Each pane's scrollback is restored on launch, including output produced while Tallos was closed. After a reboot you get the last saved scrollback.

### How do I search terminal output in Tallos?

Press `Cmd+F` on macOS or `Ctrl+F` on Windows. Search supports match highlighting, case sensitivity, regular expressions and next/previous navigation.

### Can I use PowerShell or WSL in Tallos on Windows?

Yes. Set PowerShell, Command Prompt or WSL as the default shell in Settings → Terminal, or open a one-off tab in another shell from the + menu.

### Can I keep using my Ghostty or Warp theme?

Yes. Tallos can import your Ghostty theme, font and cursor settings, and import Warp themes from the terminal theme picker in Settings → Terminal.

### How do I know which agent is waiting for me?

Agent tabs show live state: working, waiting for input, completed, or completed but unread. You can spot the waiting agent without opening each tab.

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**Run your agents in parallel with Tallos** — Claude Code, Codex, Gemini and 30+ agents — each in its own workspace, with squads, chat, terminals and review in one app. Uses the subscriptions you already have.

https://runtallos.com/signup (macOS 13+ · Windows 10+)