JetBrains IDE Terminal Now Runs on libghostty for Better Agent Support
The built-in terminal in JetBrains IDEs now runs on libghostty starting with version 2026.3, replacing the older JediTerm emulator. CLI agents such as Claude Code and Codex get modern keyboard protocols, automatic theme switching and far better rendering of terminal output. Developers who run agents inside the IDE will notice the difference right away.
Key points
- From 2026.3, the IDE's built-in terminal uses libghostty by default instead of JediTerm.
- Shift+Enter now inserts a newline in CLI agent prompts such as Claude Code and Codex instead of sending the message.
- Switching the IDE theme triggers theme-change notifications, so Claude Code, Neovim and tmux adapt automatically.
- About 50 escape sequences that JediTerm ignored or misread now render correctly, including REP and colon-separated SGR colors.
- If problems occur, turn off terminal.use.ghostty.emulator in Registry to return to JediTerm and report it on IJPL-218849.
JetBrains has swapped the JediTerm emulator in its IDEs for libghostty, the terminal library behind Ghostty. The IDE still renders the output and handles integrations, while libghostty takes over parsing and terminal state. The engine is enabled by default in the 2026.3 EAP builds and will stay on through the stable release.
For agent users, the practical gains are concrete. Kitty keyboard and modifyOtherKeys support lets Shift+Enter start a new line in prompts for Claude Code and Codex instead of submitting, and modifier shortcuts reach the app intact. Terminal apps can follow the IDE's dark or light theme automatically, and nearly 50 previously mishandled escape sequences now render correctly. A registry key brings back JediTerm if something breaks.
Real-world use
- Writing multi-line prompts for Claude Code or Codex inside a JetBrains IDE, using Shift+Enter for new lines.
- Keeping an agent's terminal UI readable when you switch the IDE between dark and light themes.
- Running full-screen tools like Neovim or tmux inside the IDE without broken borders or stray color codes.
Why it matters
If you run CLI coding agents inside a JetBrains IDE, keyboard shortcuts and theme matching should now work without extra configuration, which removes everyday friction from agent sessions.