TermSVG is a command-line tool for recording, replaying and exporting terminal sessions. It uses the asciicast format associated with asciinema, which means recordings produced by TermSVG can be used with compatible asciinema tooling, while existing asciicast files can be processed without having to make a new recording.
The software is particularly useful for creating demonstrations of command-line applications, documenting workflows, showing shell commands in action, or producing terminal animations for websites and project documentation. Unlike tools centred on hosting recordings remotely, TermSVG can keep the complete workflow local: capture the session, review it and generate a finished animation.
Recording takes place inside a pseudo-terminal and defaults to the user’s shell, although another command can be specified. Recording can also be paused temporarily, which is useful when commands or information should not appear in the finished capture.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Records interactive terminal sessions to asciicast files.
- Replays saved recordings directly in the terminal.
- Exports recordings as animated SVG images.
- Supports GIF output for environments where animated SVG is unsuitable.
- Exports recordings as WebM video.
- Compatible with the asciinema asciicast recording format.
- Pause and resume recording without ending the session.
- Record the user’s shell or a specified command.
- Adjust playback speed when replaying or exporting sessions.
- Cap long periods of inactivity to produce tighter demonstrations.
- Override the recorded terminal dimensions when exporting.
- Optionally omit the terminal window decoration from rendered output.
- Optionally hide the cursor in exported recordings.
- Minify SVG output to reduce file size.
- Apply built-in themes or load themes from JSON files.
- Uses theme information embedded in compatible asciicast recordings.
- Reports progress while processing and rendering exports.
- Uses parallel frame rendering to improve export performance.
Website: github.com/MrMarble/termsvg
Support:
Developer: MrMarble
License: GNU General Public License v3.0
TermSVG is written in Go. Learn Go with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Console Screencasting Tools / Terminal Session Recording | |
|---|---|
| Terminalizer | Generates animated GIF images of your terminal |
| VHS | Wwrite terminal GIFs as code for integration testing and demoing |
| ttyd | Shares your terminal over the web |
| asciinema | Record and share terminal sessions |
| t-rec | Generates animated GIF images for the web |
| agg | asciinema gif generator |
| ttystudio | Excellent terminal-to-gif recorder |
| ffscreencast | Shell wrapper for ffmpeg that allows fool-proof screen recording |
| tty2gif | Record scripts into both binary and gif formats |
| TermRecord | Terminal session recorder with easy-to-share self-contained HTML output |
| IPBT | High-tec terminal player |
| rec | Records terminal sessions and turns them into reusable workflows |
| ttyrec | Terminal recorder, incudes a playback tool |
| termrec | Set of tools for recording and replaying tty sessions |
| screencast | Interface to record a X11 desktop |
| rewindtty | Terminal session recorder and replayer |
| Showterm | Terminal record and upload utility |
| termtosvg | Render SVG animations of shell sessions |
| script | The granddaddy of terminal recorders |
| Shelr | Broadcast plain text screencasts |
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