Open Source · MIT License

Terminal built
for AI coding

The only terminal where Claude Code, Starship, Delta, and syntax highlighting work out of the box. No config files. No plugin managers. Just open and build.

40MB Binary size
100ms Shell boot
6 Built-in tools
0 Config required
$ brew tap szj2ys/arb && brew install arb
Try in 10 seconds — Apple-notarized, no security warnings
GitHub Stars Latest Version MIT License
arb
~/projects/webapp on main
 claude "add dark mode toggle to the header"
Claude I'll add a dark mode toggle to the header component.
  Edited src/components/Header.tsx (+24 lines)
  ✓ Changes applied successfully
 git diff
--- a/src/components/Header.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Header.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
  <nav className="header">
+ <button onClick={toggleDark}>
+ {isDark ? '☼' : '☾'}
~/projects/webapp on main *
 
Scroll

Everything you need.
Nothing you don't.

arb ships with a carefully curated set of tools so you can start working the moment you open it. No plugins to install. No config files to write.

Zero Config

Polished defaults with JetBrains Mono, Arb Dark theme, optimized macOS font rendering, and smooth animations. Open it and start working.

Built-in Shell Suite

Comes pre-loaded with Starship prompt, z smart directories, Delta for diffs, syntax highlighting, autosuggestions, and completions.

GPU Accelerated

40% smaller binary, instant startup, lazy loading, and a stripped-down GPU-accelerated rendering core. Fast and lightweight.

Lua Scripting

Full Lua scripting support for infinite customization. Configure every detail at ~/.config/arb/arb.lua

See it in action

Native Split Panes

Work on multiple tasks simultaneously. Drag to resize, keyboard shortcuts to navigate. No tmux required.

arb terminal split pane demonstration

Split Horizontally

Cmd+Shift+Enter

Split Vertically

Cmd+Shift+D

Drag to Resize

Mouse drag

Navigate

Cmd+Opt+Arrow

arb — ~/projects/api
~/projects/api on main v20.11.0
 claude "add rate limiting middleware to the auth routes"
Claude I'll add rate limiting to protect the auth endpoints.
  Created src/middleware/rateLimit.ts (+38 lines)
  Edited  src/routes/auth.ts (+6 lines)
  Edited  src/app.ts (+2 lines)
  ✓ All changes applied. Tests passing.
~/projects/api on main * v20.11.0
 git diff src/routes/auth.ts
--- a/src/routes/auth.ts
+++ b/src/routes/auth.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import { Router } from 'express';
+import { rateLimit } from '../middleware/rateLimit';
 const router = Router();
+router.use('/auth', rateLimit({ window: '15m', max: 10 }));
 git add . && git commit -m "feat: add rate limiting to auth"
[main a3f7c2d] feat: add rate limiting to auth
 3 files changed, 46 insertions(+)
 

Ready in 3 steps

1

Install

Run brew tap szj2ys/arb && brew install arb. One command, no dependencies. Apple-notarized — opens without security warnings.

2

Open

Launch arb. Starship prompt, syntax highlighting, autosuggestions, and Delta diffs are already configured. Nothing to install or tweak.

3

Code

Start building. Use Claude Code, review diffs, navigate with z, split panes — everything works out of the box.

How arb compares

Feature arb iTerm2 Alacritty Kitty Ghostty Warp
Zero Config Partial
Built-in Tools
GPU Rendering Partial
Lua Scripting
No Login Required
Open Source
Binary Size ~40 MB ~55 MB ~15 MB ~30 MB ~15 MB ~90 MB
Shell Bootstrap ~100 ms ~250 ms ~120 ms ~130 ms ~110 ms ~200 ms
Built-in Tools Count 6 0 0 0 0 3
$ brew tap szj2ys/arb && brew install arb
Try in 10 seconds — works with any shell

Everything pre-installed

Starship

Minimal, fast, and infinitely customizable cross-shell prompt.

z

Smart directory jumping. Navigate to any folder by typing partial names.

Delta

Beautiful syntax-highlighted diffs with line numbers and side-by-side view.

Syntax Highlighting

Real-time command syntax coloring for instant visual feedback.

Autosuggestions

Fish-like suggestions based on your history. Accept with right arrow.

Completions

Tab completions for commands, paths, and arguments out of the box.

Frequently asked questions

arb ships with a complete shell suite (Starship, z, Delta, syntax highlighting, autosuggestions) pre-configured. iTerm2 requires you to install and configure each tool separately. arb also has GPU-accelerated rendering and a smaller binary (~40 MB vs ~55 MB).

Yes. arb supports Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Aider, and other AI coding tools. Fast shell boot (~100ms), built-in Delta for reviewing AI-generated diffs, and native split-pane support make it ideal for AI-assisted development.

Yes. arb is MIT-licensed and fully open source. No login required, no account needed, no telemetry. The source code is on GitHub.

A single Lua config file at ~/.config/arb/arb.lua controls fonts, colors, key bindings, and behavior. Defaults are tuned for most developers, so customization is optional.

Yes. arb uses the same Lua configuration format as WezTerm. Most configs work with minimal changes. arb adds built-in shell tools, a smaller binary, and opinionated defaults.

Ready to start?

Install arb in seconds. Apple-notarized, no security warnings.

$ brew tap szj2ys/arb && brew install arb
or Download from GitHub Releases

Resources

Guides to help you get the most out of AI-powered terminal workflows.

$ brew tap szj2ys/arb && brew install arb