I have started to prefer Terminal.app over iTerm2 because of the latest updates of iTerm2 have increased UI clutter.

Here are the configurations I would do a new Terminal.app to make it fit into my workflow.

  1. Change Default Profile

    I switched to “Pro” profile from “Basic” profile.

    To make the switch, go to Preferences > Profiles and select “Pro” profile, and click on Default in the bottom.

    Pro has a translucent background. You might want to make it opaque. Preferences > Profiles > Text and click on Color & Effects and set Opacity to 100%.

    I like the “Pro” profile because it has dark theme.

  2. Use Option (⌥) as Meta Key

    Go to Preferences > Profiles > Keyboard and check Use Option as Meta key option.

    This lets you use Option (⌥) as a meta key which gives richer readline shortcuts which wouldn’t be possible otherwise.

  3. Increase Font Size and enable Antialiasing

    Go to Preferences > Profiles > Text and increase the font size to 18.

    Also, enable Use antialiasing option.

    Optionally, change the font to ‘Mononoki’.

    Install ‘Mononoki’ with Homebrew beforehand:

     brew install --cask font-mononoki

  4. When shell exits, exit the shell.

    Go to Preferences > Profiles > Shell and update When shell exits to Close if shell exited cleanly.

  5. Bell

    I don’t like audible bell. What is this, year 2000?

    Go to Preferences > Profiles > Advanced. Uncheck Audible bell, check Visual bell, and uncheck Only when bell is muted.

And that’s it.