Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

rxvt-unicode VS ConsoleZ

Compare rxvt-unicode VS ConsoleZ and see what are their differences

rxvt-unicode logo rxvt-unicode

5. 1 Transparency not working after upgrade to v9. 09; 5. 2 Remote hosts; 5. 3 Using rxvt-unicode as gmrun terminal; 5.

ConsoleZ logo ConsoleZ

console - This is a modified version of Console 2 for a better experience under Windows Vista/7/8...
  • rxvt-unicode Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-08
  • ConsoleZ Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22

rxvt-unicode features and specs

  • Lightweight
    rxvt-unicode is known for its low memory usage and minimal resource consumption, making it an efficient choice for systems with limited resources.
  • Unicode Support
    It provides robust support for Unicode, allowing it to handle a wide variety of character sets and languages, which is particularly useful for internationalization.
  • Customizability
    Users can extensively customize rxvt-unicode using X resources, allowing for a highly personalized terminal experience.
  • Perl Extensions
    rxvt-unicode supports Perl extensions, enabling advanced users to extend its functionality with custom scripts and plugins.
  • Transparency
    It supports pseudo-transparency, which can be visually appealing and useful for certain aesthetic purposes.
  • Performance
    rxvt-unicode is optimized for performance, providing a snappy and responsive experience even under heavy use.

Possible disadvantages of rxvt-unicode

  • Complex Configuration
    The extensive customizability, though a pro for advanced users, can be overwhelming and complex for beginners.
  • Limited Documentation
    Documentation can be sparse or difficult to navigate, which might pose challenges for users trying to fully leverage its capabilities.
  • Aging Codebase
    Some parts of the codebase are relatively old, which could potentially lead to maintainability issues or lack of modern features.
  • Less Beginner-Friendly
    rxvt-unicode does not cater well to novice users due to its reliance on configuration files and command-line options for customization.
  • Dependency on Perl
    The reliance on Perl for extensions might be a drawback for users who are not familiar with the language or prefer not to have additional dependencies.
  • Lack of Integrated Tabs
    Unlike some modern terminal emulators, rxvt-unicode does not have built-in tab support, requiring users to rely on external tools or workarounds.

ConsoleZ features and specs

  • Customizable Interface
    ConsoleZ offers a highly customizable interface that allows users to tweak the appearance and behavior to suit their preferences, including themes, fonts, and colors.
  • Tabbed Windows
    It supports tabbed windows that let users manage multiple consoles within a single window, making it easier to organize and navigate through terminal sessions.
  • Multiple Shell Support
    ConsoleZ supports various shell environments, such as PowerShell, CMD, and Bash, providing versatility for different user requirements.
  • Quake-style Console
    It features a Quake-style dropdown console, which can be quickly accessed via a hotkey, providing a convenient way to open the terminal.
  • Transparency and Background Image
    The application allows the use of transparency and background images, enhancing the visual aesthetics and user experience.

Possible disadvantages of ConsoleZ

  • Windows-only
    ConsoleZ is limited to the Windows operating system, which excludes a significant portion of users who rely on macOS or Linux environments.
  • Limited Updates
    Being a fork of an older project (Console2), the development and updates can be sporadic, lacking the rapid iteration seen in newer terminal applications.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users report occasional performance issues, such as slowdowns and freezes, particularly when handling multiple tabbed sessions.
  • Compatibility
    There can be compatibility issues with certain third-party tools and scripts, which may not be fully supported or could behave unpredictably.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    For new users, especially those accustomed to simpler terminals, the plethora of customization options can present a steeper learning curve.

Analysis of rxvt-unicode

Overall verdict

  • rxvt-unicode is a highly regarded terminal emulator, particularly among Unix-like operating systems users.

Why this product is good

  • Rxvt-unicode is known for its efficiency and low resource consumption compared to other terminal emulators. It supports Unicode, providing robust multilingual text handling, and allows for multiple font support. Its extensibility, through Perl scripts and add-ons, offers flexibility and customization options. Furthermore, its simple, minimalistic design appeals to users who prefer a no-nonsense terminal environment.

Recommended for

    rxvt-unicode is recommended for advanced users, developers, and system administrators who work in Unix-like environments and require a lightweight terminal emulator with Unicode support and extensive customization options. It is particularly suitable for those who value performance and minimal resource usage.

Analysis of ConsoleZ

Overall verdict

  • ConsoleZ is a good option for users looking for a more versatile and feature-rich console experience on Windows. Its continued popularity and user feedback suggest it effectively meets the needs of those who require more advanced capabilities than the default console provides.

Why this product is good

  • ConsoleZ is generally appreciated for its enhanced tabbed experience, support for multiple consoles, and customization options. It extends the functionality of the standard Windows console, offering additional features such as grouped tabs and the ability to configure different kinds of processes easily.

Recommended for

    Developers, system administrators, and power users who frequently interact with command line interfaces and need a more robust, customizable, and feature-rich terminal environment.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to rxvt-unicode and ConsoleZ)
SSH
59 59%
41% 41
Server Management
59 59%
41% 41
Terminal Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Tool
51 51%
49% 49

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare rxvt-unicode and ConsoleZ

rxvt-unicode Reviews

The 10 Best Linux Terminal Emulators
The key feature of rxvt-Unicode is that it is rock solid as software. It hardly crashes and is free of glitches. Experienced Linux users also prefer it because the main rxvt-Unicode program runs as a daemon, conserving system resources. Developers might love to try its support of Perl extensions which might increase productivity.

ConsoleZ Reviews

We have no reviews of ConsoleZ yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, rxvt-unicode seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

rxvt-unicode mentions (3)

  • tabby - a terminal for the modern age
    There are many terminal emulators, for throughput, predictable behavior with modern features, quake style, theming, tabs, and much more. Most of the features you need are supported by urxvt, and if it's not, there's sure to be another non-electron terminal emulator that has exactly what you need. Source: over 3 years ago
  • What terminal emulator do you use?
    Urxvt — Highly extendable (with Perl) unicode enabled rxvt-clone terminal emulator featuring tabbing, url launching, a Quake style drop-down mode and pseudo-transparency http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Any good truecolor terminals ?
    x11-terms/rxvt-unicode Available versions: (~)9.22-r7t *9999lt {-24-bit-color 256-color blink fading-colors +font-styles gdk-pixbuf iso14755 +mousewheel +perl -sgrmouse startup-notification unicode3 +utmp +wtmp xft} Homepage: http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html Description: rxvt clone with xft and unicode support. Source: about 4 years ago

ConsoleZ mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ConsoleZ yet. Tracking of ConsoleZ recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing rxvt-unicode and ConsoleZ, you can also consider the following products

GNOME Terminal - GNOME Terminal is a terminal emulator for GNOME desktop.

MobaXterm - Enhanced terminal for Windows with X11 server, tabbed SSH client, network tools and much more

Console - Console is a Windows console window enhancement.

PowerShell - Download WMF. Windows Management Framework contains the latest versions of PowerShell, DSC, WMI, and WinRM for older versions of Windows. PowerShell Module Browser. Search for PowerShell modules and cmdlets.

PuTTY - Popular free terminal application. Mostly used as an SSH client.

ConEmu - ConEmu-Maximus5 is a full-featured local terminal for Windows devs, admins and users. Get better console window with tabs, splits, Quake style, copy+paste, DosBox and PuTTY integration, and much more.