Cathode
Cathode is a retro-styled terminal emulator for macOS that mimics the look and feel of classic cathode ray tube (CRT) computer monitors. It provides a fully functional command-line interface wrapped in a nostalgic visual theme featuring scanlines, glow effects, and period-accurate typography. The app is used by developers and terminal enthusiasts who want to combine practical shell functionality with retro aesthetics, making everyday command-line work visually distinctive.
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1 suggestionCathode has been discontinued by its developer and no longer receives updates. According to the RoaringApps database, the app is flagged as end-of-life, and while it was marketed as having a native Apple Silicon build at some point, the developer has not maintained or supported the project. Today it still launches under Rosetta 2, but Apple will remove Rosetta 2 in macOS 28 (September 2028), and Cathode will not launch at all on that release or any newer macOS version. If you rely on Cathode's retro terminal aesthetic, consider switching to iTerm2 (free, open-source, actively maintained, full Apple Silicon native support) or Warp (modern, collaborative, native Apple Silicon). Both are serious terminal emulators with rich customisation; while they do not replicate Cathode's CRT styling out of the box, iTerm2 supports theming and custom colour schemes that can approximate a retro look. You should plan to migrate before September 2028.
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