iterm2 VS tmux

The correct response to false allegations followed by insults and threats is anything but to admit it. The software in question is a popular free and open source software that has more than a decade of trust. It's maintained by a single developer in his spare time. It's a feature that fundamentally requires the user to actively engage with in order to use it [1], with no nagging or coercion whatsoever. In fact, the only people reminding us of its existence are the Mastodon mobs, not iTerm.

The feature wasn't added out of pure hype either. It was likely inspired by user feedback [2], and the dev ultimately added it because it was useful for him personally [3].

Despite all of this, people are raging about unprovable nefarious motives and making claims about spyware, as if it's Windows. Some are even openly fantasizing about physical violence.

This kind of behavior should be condemned, not praised.

[1]: https://github.com/gnachman/iTerm2/blob/a3122c0100d8900a15cb...

[2]: https://gitlab.com/gnachman/iterm2/-/issues/6955

[3]: https://techhub.social/@gnachman/109542492387391561

> iTerm 3.5.1 removes automatic OpenAI integration, requires opt-in

This is an editorialized title. It was opt-in from the very beginning. Here's all the steps that was originally required:

1. Open settings, go to the General tab, click on the AI button.

2. Enter a paid API key

3. Close the settings

4. Click "Toolbelt" on the menu bar, and click on "Codecierge"

5. Click "Toolbelt" on the menu bar again, and click "Show toolbelt"

6. In the toolbelt, there's a textbox that you can type questions into. The textbox won't be shown if you didn't enter an API key. Only after submitting the question will the OpenAI integration be activated.

https://github.com/gnachman/iTerm2/blob/a3122c0100d8900a15cb...

The initial implementation already took many many clicks to run. I literally had to do nothing to not use the feature and not once was I reminded about the feature after I chose to ignore it.

Despite that, people were spreading rumors that entering an invalid API key would instantly cause iTerm to send all data to OpenAI. It's a straight up lie started by people who actually tested the feature and posted their findings the GitLab thread about this feature.

https://gitlab.com/gnachman/iterm2/-/issues/11475

https://gitlab.com/gnachman/iterm2/-/issues/11470

People in the GitLab thread were calling for dogpiles and fantasizing about inflicting violence on Mastodon. Towards the sole maintainer of a popular free and open source software developed in his spare time.

https://archive.is/https://tau-ceti.space/@ics/*

Some of the things you see online... I have no words.

I'd suggest everyone go read the issue thread (https://gitlab.com/gnachman/iterm2/-/issues/11470) before commenting.

It seems abundantly clear that people are being overly negative about a feature that realistically has no security concerns (even as originally developed). Many commenters did not even know how the feature worked (assumed all keystrokes were being sent by default, etc...)

One outright said that the feature should be removed because the developer must "stand against OpenAI and the whole "AI" industry."

To me this just seems like a lot of people whining and trying to inject politics and unfounded safety concerns into a good implementation of something that many people like. This is an opt-in feature. It has a separate panel to even interact with it. And you need to provide a valid openai API key to use it.

Hello! I have not been blogging for a while, but I have been watching this issue blow up for a few days, and I wanted to put down some thoughts.

[0] https://gitlab.com/gnachman/iterm2/-/issues/10994 the discussion in there makes it seem like it's okay because many schemes that aren't http[s] cause the browser to open a dialog box

Features of iTerm2 I use:

  - fullscreen without using MacOS's spaces implementation of fullscreen

No, that's not how the plugin works. It sends context to ChatGPT telling it to return a single command that is copy/pasteable. The plugin does no filtering of the results. You can literally read the code for yourself:

https://gitlab.com/gnachman/iterm2/-/blob/master/sources/iTe...

Totally.

There are clear explanations in the release notes and the wiki entry linked from the relevant place in the preference pane [1]. The full release note is displayed before updating. There are numerous comments explaining how it's impossible to accidentally enable the feature. It's opt-in, you have to input an paid API key, you can even use a offline modal instead, and the data it sends are totally customizable and by default limited to the output of "uname" and the prompt you explicitly enter.

Yet people ignore all of that

iTerm2 is featureful yet solid, constantly improved, doesn't work against the user, and is free. I've submitted patches before and the author was nice and responsive. The AI feature is minimal, non-intrusive, and doesn't advertise its existence once you decided not to opt in. It's thankless work even without HN piling on and the author deserves much better.

[1]: https://gitlab.com/gnachman/iterm2/-/wikis/AI-Prompt

What terminal emulator are you using? I have noticed that the latest release of iterm2 has problems rendering glyphs (see this discussion and links therein). I too am having problems displaying any nerd font icon due to the aforementioned.

This also gave me the chance to learn how to use Tmux. Best tool I've learned in a while.

To keep it running in the background we can use tmux

tmux is a powerful terminal multiplexer that enhances productivity by allowing session persistence, window and pane management, and customization through key bindings and configuration files. It supports scripting for automation, facilitates collaboration with shared sessions, and integrates well with various shells and tools.

Tmux

Configure the frontend Open up a new terminal. P.S. We can split the terminal session using tmux or run it as a system service, but to keep things fairly simple, we would leave the backend running in one terminal and open another terminal for the frontend.

I have been using tmux for a while now. It was really worth it, especially after I started using neovim. One thing was really missing though compared to my previous setup and that was opening URLs. I always used my mouse to do that, but now I couldn't even do that because I am using the good old xterm as a terminal which doesn't have a built in feature like that.

If the cursor is located on a number, the shortcuts +a and +x increments/decrements that number. Not only do I not have any use for this behaviour, +a is also used to control tmux, which I normally use together with neovim.

I said multiplexer didn't I? tmux to be exact. Another game-changer for me. The beauty of using tmux is that I can create sessions, panes, and windows that can then be moved, split, detached, and everything in between. I also have Neovim shortcuts built in so that I can easily move with hjkl which if you know Neovim, that's life.

> tmux/screen do not break copy-paste

Tmux breaks interacting with the clipboard so much that it has its own dedicated Wiki page dealing with all of the different issues and settings: https://github.com/tmux/tmux/wiki/Clipboard