Tabby Development

Configure and customize Tabby terminal emulator, manage SSH/serial connections, and develop plugins.

First Action: Check Cache Files

The SessionStart hook automatically detects Tabby version and refreshes caches. Check these files:

1. •

   Version info: ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/.cache/tabby-config.json

   • •Detected Tabby version, config path, installed plugins
2. •

   Learnings: ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/.cache/learnings.md

   • •Accumulated patterns and documentation

Before Starting: Backup Configuration

Always create a dated backup before modifying the Tabby config.

Linux/macOS:

cp ~/.config/tabby/config.yaml ~/.config/tabby/config.yaml.bak.$(date +%Y-%m-%d)

Windows PowerShell:

Copy-Item "$env:APPDATA\tabby\config.yaml" "$env:APPDATA\tabby\config.yaml.bak.$(Get-Date -Format 'yyyy-MM-dd')"

Configuration File Location

Tabby uses YAML format for all configuration.

Base Configuration

version: 1
terminal:
  fontSize: 14
  fontFamily: "Fira Code"
  ligatures: true
  shell: default
  cursor: block
  cursorBlink: true
  copyOnSelect: false
  rightClick: paste
  bell: visual
  bracketedPaste: true
  wordSeparator: " ()[]{}'\"\\|"

appearance:
  theme: Standard
  tabsOnTop: true
  frame: full
  dock: off
  dockScreen: current

hotkeys: {}

ssh:
  connections: []

serial:
  connections: []

profiles: []

plugins: []

Focused Skills

For specific configuration topics, use these focused skills:

Troubleshooting

For debugging issues, the tabby-troubleshoot agent can autonomously diagnose and fix common problems.

Testing and Debugging

1. •Reload config: Close and reopen Tabby, or use Ctrl+Shift+R
2. •Debug logs: Settings > Advanced > Enable debug logging
3. •Open DevTools: Ctrl+Shift+D or via Settings > Advanced

Key Differences from Other Terminals

• •YAML config (not JavaScript like Hyper, not Lua like WezTerm)
• •Built-in SSH/serial client with connection manager
• •Plugin marketplace built into Settings UI
• •Portable mode with data/ folder
• •Encrypted vault for SSH credentials and keys
• •Angular-based plugin architecture (not React)

Semantic Documentation Retrieval

For deep technical questions, use Context7 to access up-to-date documentation:

xterm.js (Terminal Rendering)

Tabby uses xterm.js for terminal rendering. Query for buffer API, addons, escape sequences:

Tool: mcp__plugin_context7_context7__query-docs
  libraryId: /xtermjs/xterm.js
  query: [your terminal question]

Electron (Window/IPC)

Tabby is built on Electron. Query for window management, IPC, native features:

Tool: mcp__plugin_context7_context7__query-docs
  libraryId: /websites/electronjs
  query: [your electron question]

Documentation Cache

The plugin automatically maintains a documentation cache at ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/.cache/learnings.md. This cache is refreshed automatically via SessionStart hook when stale (>7 days) or missing.

To use cached documentation: Read the cache file for up-to-date component APIs and patterns.

Cache sources are defined in: ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/.cache/sources.json

Resources

• •Official site: https://tabby.sh/
• •GitHub: https://github.com/Eugeny/tabby
• •Plugin API: https://docs.tabby.sh/
• •Community themes: https://github.com/Eugeny/tabby/wiki