vhs

name	vhs
description	Create terminal screenshots and GIFs with VHS tape files. Use when automating terminal recordings, capturing TUI screenshots, or generating demo GIFs.

VHS

Terminal recorder from Charm. Makes GIFs, PNGs, MP4s, or WebMs from scripted terminal actions.

Run

nix run nixpkgs#vhs -- <file>.tape

Tape File Syntax

Output output.gif           # or .png, .mp4, .webm

Set Shell "bash"
Set FontSize 14
Set Width 1200
Set Height 600
Set Theme "Catppuccin Mocha"

Hide                        # Hide commands from output
Type "echo hello"
Enter
Sleep 1s
Show                        # Show commands again

Screenshot output.png       # Capture current frame

Commands

Command	Description
Type "text"	Type text
Enter, Tab, Escape, Space	Press key
Ctrl+x, Alt+x	Key combo
Up, Down, Left, Right	Arrow keys
Sleep 1s	Wait (ms, s)
Screenshot file.png	Capture frame
Hide / Show	Toggle visibility

Settings

Setting	Description
Set Shell "bash"	Shell to use
Set FontSize 14	Font size
Set Width 1200	Terminal width
Set Height 600	Terminal height
Set Theme "Catppuccin Mocha"	Color theme
Set Padding 20	Window padding
Set WindowBar Colorful	Window decorations

Example: TUI Screenshot

Output screenshots/demo.png

Set Shell "bash"
Set FontSize 14
Set Width 1400
Set Height 800
Set Theme "Catppuccin Mocha"

Hide
Type "cd /path/to/project && my-tui-app"
Enter
Sleep 2s
Show

Ctrl+p
Sleep 1s
Screenshot screenshots/demo.png

Escape
Type "q"
Enter

Tips

• Use tape files for repeatable terminal demos
• Use Hide when command text should stay out of output
• Use Sleep to give TUIs time to render
• Use Screenshot for still images
• Use GIF or video output for motion demos

List Themes

nix run nixpkgs#vhs -- themes