개발자를 위한 macOS 터미널 환경, Kaku 소개 (WezTerm 기반)
요약
Kaku는 일본어 '쓰다(書く)'의 의미를 담아 개발자의 코딩 및 작업 흐름에 최적화된 macOS 전용 터미널 에뮬레이터입니다. WezTerm을 깊이 커스터마이징하여, 초기 설정 없이도 JetBrains Mono 등 세련되고 실용적인 기본값(Zero Config)을 제공합니다. 40% 작은 바이너리 크기, 즉각적인 시작 속도, 그리고 강력한 AI 어시스턴트 기능(자연어 기반 명령어 생성, 오류 복구 제안)이 특징입니다. Zsh 플러그인과 통합된 클립보드 관리, 파일 탐색기(Yazi), Git 워크플로우 등 개발자가 필요로 하는 모든
핵심 포인트
- Zero Config 원칙에 따라 JetBrains Mono 및 macOS 환경에 최적화된 기본 설정을 제공합니다.
- AI 어시스턴트 기능을 내장하여 자연어 기반으로 명령어 생성(Natural language to command) 및 오류 복구 제안을 지원합니다.
- WezTerm의 강력한 Lua 커스터마이징 API를 유지하면서도, 바이너리 크기를 40% 줄이고 시작 지연 시간(Latency)을 개선했습니다.
- Zsh 플러그인과 통합된 클립보드 기능(Copy on select), 클릭 가능한 파일 경로 등 개발자 워크플로우에 필요한 폴리싱된 기본 기능을 제공합니다.
Kaku (書く, かく)
Kaku (書く, かく) is the Japanese word for writing: the act of putting thought into form. A deeply customized fork of WezTerm, built for practical defaults on day one while keeping full Lua customization and a fast, lightweight feel.
Part of a trilogy: Kaku (書く) writes code, Waza (技) drills habits, Kami (紙) ships documents. Think of them as a family: Kaku is the dad, Waza the big sister, Kami the little sister.
- Zero Config: Defaults with JetBrains Mono, macOS font rendering, and low-res font sizing.
- Theme-Aware Experience: Auto-switches between dark and light modes with macOS, with tuned selection colors, font weight, and practical color overrides support.
- Curated Shell Suite: Built-in zsh plugins with optional CLI tools for prompt, diff, and navigation workflows.
- Fast & Lightweight: 40% smaller binary, instant startup, lazy loading, stripped-down GPU-accelerated core.
- WezTerm-Compatible Config: Use WezTerm's Lua config directly with full API compatibility and no migration.
- Polished Defaults: Copy on select, clickable file paths, history peek from full-screen apps, pane input broadcast, and visual bell on background tab completion.
Installation
- Download Kaku DMG & Drag to Applications
- Or install with Homebrew:
brew install tw93/tap/kakuku
- Open Kaku. The app is notarized by Apple, so it opens without security warnings.
- On first launch, Kaku will automatically set up your shell environment.
Keybindings
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| New Tab | Cmd + T |
| New Window | Cmd + N |
| Close Tab/Pane | Cmd + W |
| Navigate Tabs | Cmd + Shift + [ / ] or Cmd + 1–9 |
| Navigate Panes | Cmd + Opt + Arrows |
| Split Pane Vertical | Cmd + D |
| Split Pane Horizontal | Cmd + Shift + D |
| Open Settings Panel | Cmd + , |
| AI Panel | Cmd + Shift + A |
| Apply AI Suggestion | Cmd + Shift + E |
| Open Lazygit | Cmd + Shift + G |
| Yazi File Manager | Cmd + Shift + Y or y |
| Clear Screen | Cmd + K |
Full keybinding reference: docs/keybindings.md
AI Assistant Features
Kaku has a built-in assistant with two modes and a settings page for AI coding tools.
- Error recovery: When a command fails, Kaku automatically suggests a fix. Press
Cmd + Shift + Eto apply. - Natural language to command: Type
# <description>at the prompt and press Enter. Kaku sends the query to the LLM and injects the resulting command back into the prompt, ready to review and run. - AI Tools Config: Manage settings for Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, Copilot CLI, Kimi Code, and more.
Select a provider in kaku ai to auto-fill the base URL and models:
| Provider | Base URL | Models |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | https://api.openai.com/v1 | (free text) |
| Custom | (manual) | (manual) |
Full AI assistant docs: docs/features.md
Performance Comparison
| Metric | Upstream | Kaku | Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executable Size | ~67 MB | ~40 MB | Aggressive symbol stripping & feature pruning |
| Resources Volume | ~100 MB | ~80 MB | Asset optimization & lazy-loaded assets |
| Launch Latency | Standard | Instant | Just-in-time initialization |
| Shell Bootstrap | ~200ms | ~100ms | Optimized environment provisioning |
Q: Is there a Windows or Linux version? Not currently. Kaku is macOS-only for now.
Q: Can I use transparent windows? Yes, set config.window_background_opacity in ~/.config/kaku/kaku.lua.
The kaku command is missing. Run /Applications/Kaku.app/Contents/MacOS/kaku init --update-only && exec zsh -l, then kaku doctor.
Full FAQ: docs/faq.md
Reference
- Keybindings - full shortcut reference
- Features - AI assistant, lazygit, yazi, remote files, shell suite
- Configuration - themes, fonts, custom keybindings, Lua API
- CLI Reference -
kaku ai,kaku config,kaku doctor, and more
Background
I heavily rely on the CLI for both work and personal projects. Tools I've built, like Mole and Pake, reflect this.
I used Alacritty for years and learned to value speed and simplicity. As my workflow shifted toward AI-assisted coding, I wanted stronger tab and pane ergonomics. I also explored Kitty, Ghostty, Warp, and iTerm2. Each is strong in different areas, but I still wanted a setup that matched my own balance of performance, defaults, and control.
WezTerm is robust and highly hackable, and I am grateful for its engine and ecosystem. So I built Kaku to be that environment: fast, polished, and ready to work.
Big thanks to all contributors who helped build Kaku. Go follow them! ❤️
MIT License, feel free to enjoy and participate in open source.
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