Rio Terminal: A Fast, Modern, and GPU-Accelerated Terminal Emulator for Ubuntu and Beyond If you’re on the hunt for a fresh and fast terminal emulator, Rio emerges as a compelling new choice in 2025. While Linux, including Ubuntu, already bundles solid terminal emulators, new options like Rio stand out by combining modern technologies and unique features designed to boost speed and usability. What Sets Rio Apart? Rio is a terminal emulator built with Rust and powered by WebGPU, a cutting-edge web standard that taps directly into your system’s GPU (graphics processing unit) to accelerate rendering and computational work. This GPU acceleration helps Rio deliver blazing-fast performance and smooth, visually rich output on Linux (both Wayland and X11), Windows, macOS, and FreeBSD. It is also available as a native desktop app or even runs in your web browser via WebAssembly. Although GPU-accelerated terminals are becoming more common on Linux, Rio distinguishes itself by combining these innovations with a robust feature set suited for power users and developers. Key Features [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object] How to Use and Customize Rio Rio is designed primarily for keyboard users. It depends heavily on well-documented keyboard shortcuts for everything from opening new tabs to splitting windows and adjusting font size. There’s no GUI preferences menu, to customize settings such as themes, keybindings, or the default directory, you edit a text-based configuration file (in TOML format). Example key shortcuts on Ubuntu include: [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object] However, resizing split panes via shortcuts isn’t currently supported, though future updates might bring more improvements. Installing Rio on Ubuntu Rio is easy to install on Ubuntu thanks to its availability on Flathub and as a downloadable DEB package. You can get it from its GitHub page or via Flathub, making it accessible across many Linux distributions without hassle. Who Is Rio For? [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object] Final Thoughts If you’re satisfied with your current terminal emulator, Rio may not yet be a reason to switch. But if you’re curious about leveraging GPU acceleration, want better font rendering, or appreciate a modern, fast, and cross-platform terminal, Rio is worth a look. With ongoing development promising even faster and more advanced features soon, it’s a promising newcomer for Ubuntu and other Linux users alike.
