---
name: "TerminalWidget"
subtitle: "Terminal feedback as a desktop widget"
date: 2026-05-13
link: https://brettterpstra.com/2026/04/20/terminalwidget-terminal-feedback-on-the-desktop/
linkText: "brettterpstra.com"
source: "Brett Terpstra"
topics:
  - macos-apps
  - apple-tips
tags: [macos, terminal, widget, automation]
description: "Brett Terpstra's project for surfacing command-line output as a desktop widget — quick-glance status without a Terminal window open."
---

Stick the output of any shell command (build status, disk usage, weather, your inbox count) onto the desktop as a small widget. Refreshes on a timer or on demand. The win is reducing the constant context-switch of `cmd-tab to Terminal → run command → cmd-tab back`. Open source from Brett, the author of TextExpander and Marked.
