If you're a developer, system administrator, or IT professional looking for a modern, customizable, and feature-rich terminal emulator, then Tabby is the tool you need.
Tabby is a cross-platform terminal that combines a beautiful UI, multi-shell support, an integrated SSH client, split panes, and plugin extensibility into one seamless package. But what really makes it stand out is its ZMODEM support, which allows for fast and easy file transfers over SSH using lrzsz.
🚀 Why Tabby is a Game-Changer
Tabby takes terminal emulation to the next level by offering:
✅ Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
✅ GPU-accelerated rendering for smooth performance
✅ Highly customizable UI (themes, fonts, transparency, and blur effects)
✅ Multiple shell support (PowerShell, WSL, SSH, CMD, Bash, Fish, and more)
✅ Integrated SSH client (replacing PuTTY & other SSH tools)
✅ ZMODEM file transfer support over SSH (via lrzsz)
✅ Split panes & tabbed sessions for ultimate multitasking
✅ Integrated password & key management
✅ Plugin support for additional features
📂 ZMODEM File Transfer Over SSH
A standout feature of Tabby’s SSH client is its support for ZMODEM file transfers, which makes uploading and downloading files over SSH fast, reliable, and easy.
📥 How ZMODEM Works in Tabby
ZMODEM is an efficient protocol for transferring files over a terminal session, commonly used when working with remote servers over SSH. It allows you to:
Upload files from your local machine to a remote server
Download files from a remote server to your local machine
Resume interrupted transfers
To use ZMODEM, you need the lrzsz package installed on both your local machine and the remote server.
🛠️ Setting Up ZMODEM on Your Remote Server
1️⃣ Install lrzsz on your remote server:
sudo apt install lrzsz # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo yum install lrzsz # RHEL/CentOS
sudo dnf install lrzsz # Fedora
sudo pacman -S lrzsz # Arch Linux
2️⃣ Open Tabby and connect to your remote server via SSH.
📤 Upload Files Over SSH Using ZMODEM in Tabby
To send a file from your local machine to the remote server:
1️⃣ Press Ctrl + Shift + V in Tabby.
2️⃣ Select the file you want to upload.
3️⃣ Tabby will automatically use rz (Receive ZMODEM) on the server side to accept the transfer.
Alternatively, manually start rz on the remote server:
rz
Then drag and drop your file into the Tabby terminal.
📥 Download Files Over SSH Using ZMODEM in Tabby
To download a file from the remote server to your local machine:
1️⃣ On the remote server, run:
sz filename
2️⃣ Tabby will prompt you to accept the file.
3️⃣ The file will be downloaded to your local machine.
🖥️ Multi-Shell Support
Tabby isn’t just an SSH client—it also supports multiple shells, allowing you to switch seamlessly between:
Bash (Linux/macOS)
Zsh (for power users with Oh My Zsh!)
PowerShell (Windows)
Cmd.exe (for classic Windows users)
WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)
Fish (for auto-suggestions & simplicity)
This means you can manage all your command-line workflows in one place without juggling multiple apps.
🔐 Built-in SSH Client (No More PuTTY!)
Tired of using PuTTY for SSH access? Tabby eliminates the need for external SSH clients with its:
Built-in SSH key management
Password authentication & key-based authentication support
Custom SSH profiles for quick access
Persistent SSH sessions
📌 Quick Installation & Setup
Getting started with Tabby is easy:
🔽 Download Tabby
👉 Head over to https://tabby.sh/ and download the version for your operating system.
1️⃣ Install Tabby and launch it.
2️⃣ Set your default shell (Bash, Zsh, PowerShell, etc.).
3️⃣ Customize themes, fonts, and keybindings in the Settings menu.
4️⃣ (Optional) Set up SSH connections and credentials.
5️⃣ (Optional) Install lrzsz on your remote servers to enable ZMODEM file transfers.
💡 Why Choose Tabby Over Other Terminals?
| Feature | Tabby | iTerm2 (macOS) | Windows Terminal | PuTTY |
| Cross-platform | ✅ Yes | ❌ macOS only | ❌ Windows only | ✅ Yes |
| GPU-accelerated | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| SSH Client | ✅ Built-in | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| ZMODEM Support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Tabs & Panes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Plugin Support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Customizable UI | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
🏆 Verdict: Tabby is the Best Terminal Emulator with SSH & ZMODEM Support!
💭 Wrapping UP
With ZMODEM support, an integrated SSH client, and multi-shell compatibility, Tabby is the best terminal emulator for developers, system administrators, and power users.
If you need fast, efficient, and secure file transfers over SSH, Tabby’s ZMODEM support makes it an excellent alternative to outdated tools like PuTTY.
🚀 Download Tabby now and take your terminal experience to the next level!
