Kaku書

An AI-friendly Mac terminal with sensible defaults, ready out of the box. Open source, no account required.

Zero configLightweightAI-friendly
Download Kaku Install guide
00 · See it

What it actually looks like

Dark and light modes, tuned fonts, and a native macOS feel, the same on both.

Kaku dark mode screenshot
Dark mode: tabs, panes, and tools in one fast workspace.
Kaku light mode screenshot
Light mode: native macOS feel with crisp, readable type.
TabsNew ⌘T · Close ⌘W · Switch ⌘1–9
PanesSplit ⌘D and ⌘⇧D · Navigate ⌘⌥ + arrows
WindowSettings ⌘, · Clear ⌘K · Restore sessions
01 · Tabs & panes

Tabs and splits that feel like the rest of macOS.

New tabs, split panes, and navigation use the shortcuts you already expect. Reopen Kaku and your windows, panes, and working directories return.

See all shortcuts

02 · Assistant

A failed command should be more than red text.

Once the assistant is configured, it can suggest a fix when a command fails. Press Cmd + Shift + E to paste it back, and nothing dangerous runs on its own. Type # plus a sentence to turn plain language into a command.

Explore the assistant

~/proj $ npm run buidl

npm ERR! Missing script: "buidl"

Kaku Assistant · suggested fix
npm run build
Press ⌘⇧E to paste it at the prompt. Nothing runs on its own.

~/proj $ npm run build

03 · Defaults

Useful defaults, already set.

Fonts, themes, shortcuts, and shell integration are already configured.

01Tabs & panesNew tab, split, navigate, and restore sessions with dependable native behavior.02Fonts & themesJetBrains Mono, macOS font rendering, and auto dark and light themes.03Fast & lightweightGPU-accelerated rendering for terminal text and graphics.04Small touchesCopy on select, clickable file paths, history peek, and visual bell.05Shell suiteLazygit, Yazi, remote files, z, completion, and highlighting.06AI assistantFix failed commands and turn a sentence into a command, when you want it.07Lua configCustomize the terminal with WezTerm's Lua configuration system.
04 · Daily use

Getting started

Install Kaku and start using it. Configure your own AI service or adjust terminal settings when you need them.

01

Install

Use the DMG or brew install tw93/tap/kakuku, then run kaku doctor to verify the app, PATH, and shell integration.

02

AI setup

Run kaku ai to configure your own AI service and models. Cmd + L opens chat once it is configured.

03

Tools

Cmd + Shift + G for Lazygit, Cmd + Shift + Y for Yazi, Cmd + Shift + R for remote files.

04

Config

Open the kaku config TUI for font size, opacity, Smart Tab, close confirmation, shortcuts, and Lua overrides.

05 · Why Kaku

It started as my own daily driver

I live in the terminal. I used Alacritty for years for its speed, then wanted stronger tabs and panes as my work shifted toward AI coding. Kaku builds on a fast, proven engine, adds practical defaults and shell tools, and lets me connect my own AI service when I need an assistant.

Tw93 · @HiTw93

06 · Questions

Common questions

How do I install Kaku?
Download the DMG from GitHub Releases, or use the Homebrew tap: brew install tw93/tap/kakuku. An unrelated kaku package exists, so the tap avoids the wrong one.
How is Kaku different from iTerm2?
Kaku comes with fonts, themes, shell integration, and Mac shortcuts configured. It also includes an optional assistant that connects to your own AI service.
How is Kaku different from Warp?
Kaku is MIT licensed and requires no Kaku account. You configure your own AI service, and can customize the terminal with Lua.
Is Kaku paid?
No, Kaku is an MIT-licensed open source project.
Does Kaku run on Windows or Linux?
Not yet, the current focus is getting the native macOS experience solid first.