Ask HN: Why are there so many companies trying to reinvent the terminal (badly)?

#1

Post by swidi » Mon, May 02, 2022, 8:42 AM UTC

Every week I see a new terminal app here on HN, and it's always some startup with no good will that's built it on Electron and filled it full of always-online trackers.

Why is this a thing, and why do companies think this is a market worth pursuing?

Re: Ask HN: Why are there so many companies trying to reinvent the terminal (badly)?

#2

Post by gigatexal » Mon, May 02, 2022, 8:50 AM UTC

It makes no sense to me as well. Iterm2 + zsh + oh-my-zsh + tmux and you have everything you need.

On linux I just use gnome-terminal + zsh + oh-my-zsh and I am perfectly capable. For me, this is a case of "it's not broke so why are you messing with it?"

Re: Ask HN: Why are there so many companies trying to reinvent the terminal (badly)?

#3

Post by patatino » Mon, May 02, 2022, 8:53 AM UTC

Dev tools are hot currently, VCs like it. That could be a reason

Re: Ask HN: Why are there so many companies trying to reinvent the terminal (badly)?

#4

Post by throwaway4good » Mon, May 02, 2022, 9:00 AM UTC

What is their business model? How could you possibly make money creating a new terminal?

Re: Ask HN: Why are there so many companies trying to reinvent the terminal (badly)?

#5

Post by aliswe » Mon, May 02, 2022, 9:07 AM UTC

I think this was a very bad faith take. Try to spread some positivity!

Re: Ask HN: Why are there so many companies trying to reinvent the terminal (badly)?

#6

Post by eurekin » Mon, May 02, 2022, 9:07 AM UTC

I haven't noticed them, could someone post links?

Re: Ask HN: Why are there so many companies trying to reinvent the terminal (badly)?

#7

Post by can16358p » Mon, May 02, 2022, 9:13 AM UTC

eurekin wrote: post #6

I haven't noticed them, could someone post links?

There is one but I'm scared that the HN Gods will forever curse my account if I post the word "bad" and the name of that terminal here in the same sentence.

Re: Ask HN: Why are there so many companies trying to reinvent the terminal (badly)?

#8

Post by warkanlock » Mon, May 02, 2022, 9:15 AM UTC

aliswe wrote: post #5

I think this was a very bad faith take. Try to spread some positivity!

positivism does not make the world a better place neither tools useful

Re: Ask HN: Why are there so many companies trying to reinvent the terminal (badly)?

#9

Post by DrinkWater » Mon, May 02, 2022, 9:15 AM UTC

I am always curious to see new approaches to the classical terminals that i've been using for 20+ years now. So i don't mind this trend.

What i've seen so far was mostly aesthetics and less "functional" stuff, which makes me wonder: Maybe there isn't that much to improve?

Re: Ask HN: Why are there so many companies trying to reinvent the terminal (badly)?

#10

Post by warkanlock » Mon, May 02, 2022, 9:16 AM UTC

it's one of those things that makes me want to quit technology, people get bored out of their minds and try to reinvent the wheel instead of doing something useful