---
name: "ptyxis"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "ptyxis"
version: "50.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ptyxis"
---

# ptyxis(1)

a container-oriented terminal

## NAME

ptyxis - a container-oriented terminal

## SYNOPSIS

**ptyxis** \[OPTION\]... \[-- PROGRAM ARGUMENTS\]\

## DESCRIPTION

**ptyxis** is a container-oriented terminal, designed for the GNOME desktop. It provides tight integration with podman, toolbox, distrobox, and jhbuild to simplify container-based development and system management.\

- **--version**

  Show the version of the program.

- **--preferences**

  Show the preferences window.

- **--new-window**

  Open a new window in an existing instance of Ptyxis. If Ptyxis is not running, a new instance is started.

  May be combined with **--working-directory** and **--execute** and **--title** options.

- **--tab**

  Open a new tab in the most-recently-used window of an existing Ptyxis instance. If Ptyxis is not running, a new instance is started.

  May be combined with **--working-directory** and **--execute** and **--title** options.

- **-x**, **--execute**

  Execute a custom command.

  This is similar to using **--** to provide the custom command except that the entire command line should be provided as a single argument.

  In general, you should use **--** instead of this option. This is primarily available to be similar to **bash -c 'command'**

  May be combined with **--working-directory** and **--title** options.

- **-d**, **--working-directory**

  Set the current working directory for a new tab \[--tab\], window \[--window\], or custom command \[-- COMMAND...\].

- **--title=TITLE**

  Sets the title for a new terminal page created with either --tab or --new-window.

- **--maximize**

  Maximize a newly created window.

- **--fullscreen**

  Fullscreen a newly created window.

- **--tab-with-profile=PROFILE**

  Creates a new tab in an existing instance using the specified profile. The profile should be a **UUID** string which can be found in the profile editor of the preferences dialog.

- **-s**, **--standalone**

  Start a new instance of Ptyxis, in single instance mode, ignoring any instances already running.

  Single instance mode is implied when running a **--** command.

- **-s**, **--gapplication-app-id=ID**

  Override the application **ID** in single instance mode.

- **-h**, **--help**

  Show a summary of options.

- Other standard GNOME options not listed here are also supported.

  ## PALETTE FILES

Ptyxis supports custom color palettes defined in INI-style files with a **.palette** extension. Palette files can be placed in **~/.local/share/org.gnome.Ptyxis/palettes/** to be available in the palette selector.

Palette files use the GKeyFile format (similar to INI files) and must contain at minimum a **\[Palette\]** section with a **Name** key. The palette can define colors in two ways:

- **Single Scheme**

  If neither **\[Light\]** nor **\[Dark\]** sections are present, color keys may be placed directly in the **\[Palette\]** section. The same colors will be used for both light and dark themes, with Ptyxis automatically determining which theme to use based on the system color scheme.

- **Dual Scheme**

  If both **\[Light\]** and **\[Dark\]** sections are present, each section defines colors for its respective theme. Both sections must contain the same required color keys.

The **\[Palette\]** section supports the following keys:

- **Name**

  (Required) The display name of the palette as shown in the palette selector.

- **Primary**

  (Optional) Boolean value (true/false). If set to true, marks this palette to be included in the initial set of palettes shown to the user. This is generally used for a limited set of palettes shipped with Ptyxis.

- **UseSystemAccent**

  (Optional) Boolean value (true/false). If set to true, the palette will use the system accent color.

Each color scheme section ( **\[Palette\]** , **\[Light\]** , or **\[Dark\]** ) must contain the following required color keys:

- **Foreground**

  Text foreground color.

- **Background**

  Terminal background color.

- **Color0**

  through **Color15** The 16 standard terminal colors (0-7 are normal colors, 8-15 are bright colors).

The following color keys are optional and will use computed defaults if omitted:

- **Cursor**

  or **CursorBackground** Cursor background color. If not specified, defaults to the foreground color.

- **CursorForeground**

  Cursor foreground color.

- **TitlebarBackground**

  Titlebar background color. Defaults to a shaded version of the background.

- **TitlebarForeground**

  Titlebar foreground color. Defaults to a shaded version of the foreground.

- **BellForeground**

  Visual bell foreground color. Defaults to the titlebar foreground color.

- **BellBackground**

  Visual bell background color. Defaults to a mix of Color11 and titlebar background.

- **SuperuserForeground**

  Foreground color when running as superuser. Defaults to a shaded version of the titlebar foreground.

- **SuperuserBackground**

  Background color when running as superuser. Defaults to a mix of Color1 and the background.

- **RemoteForeground**

  Foreground color when connected remotely. Defaults to a shaded version of the titlebar foreground.

- **RemoteBackground**

  Background color when connected remotely. Defaults to a mix of Color12 and the background.

All color values must be specified in hexadecimal format, either as **#RRGGBB** or **#RRGGBBAA** (with optional alpha channel). For example: **#ffffff** (white) or **#000000ff** (black with full opacity).

Example palette file:

```
[Palette]
Name=My Custom Palette
[Light]
Foreground=#000000
Background=#ffffff
Color0=#000000
Color1=#cc0000
Color2=#00cc00
Color3=#cccc00
Color4=#0000cc
Color5=#cc00cc
Color6=#00cccc
Color7=#cccccc
Color8=#808080
Color9=#ff0000
Color10=#00ff00
Color11=#ffff00
Color12=#0000ff
Color13=#ff00ff
Color14=#00ffff
Color15=#ffffff
[Dark]
Foreground=#ffffff
Background=#000000
Color0=#000000
Color1=#cc0000
Color2=#00cc00
Color3=#cccc00
Color4=#0000cc
Color5=#cc00cc
Color6=#00cccc
Color7=#cccccc
Color8=#808080
Color9=#ff0000
Color10=#00ff00
Color11=#ffff00
Color12=#0000ff
Color13=#ff00ff
Color14=#00ffff
Color15=#ffffff
```

## SEE ALSO

For further information, visit the website https://gitlab.gnome.org/chergert/ptyxis/

## BUGS

Bug reports can be found and filed at https://gitlab.gnome.org/chergert/ptyxis/issues