Theming Your Linux TTY Using Kernel Arguments | TT-Why? ️
I really don't like the default theme of the Linux TTY ()... I've seen some blog posts about using terminal escape codes in /etc/issues and ~/.bashrc, but this leaves the default theme around for the startup log messages.
If only the Linux kernel developers had made some kernel arguments just for this... (they did).
Table of Contents:
vt.default_(red | grn | blu )
The kernel arguments in question are: [vt.default_red, vt.default_grn, and vt.default_blu], each takes an array of 16 comma-separated 8-bit (0-255) decimal numbers representing the terminal colors.
The 16 colors correspond to the standard terminal color palette:
| Id | Color | Id | Color | Id | Color | Id | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Black | 4 | Blue | 8 | Bright Black | 12 | Bright Blue |
| 1 | Red | 5 | Magenta | 9 | Bright Red | 13 | Bright Magenta |
| 2 | Green | 6 | Cyan | 10 | Bright Green | 14 | Bright Cyan |
| 3 | Yellow | 7 | White | 11 | Bright Yellow | 15 | Bright White |
The kernel indexes each array with the Id to set the RGB values for each color in the palette.
Catppuccin
vt.default_red=36,237,166,238,138,245,139,184,91,237,166,238,138,245,139,165
vt.default_grn=39,135,218,212,173,189,213,192,96,135,218,212,173,189,213,173
vt.default_blu=58,150,149,159,244,230,202,224,120,150,149,159,244,230,202,203
How to Pass Kernel Arguments
Select the instructions that work for your bootloader/system:
1. EFI boot stub
If you're using direct EFI boot, add the arguments to your efibootmgr command:
efibootmgr --create --disk /dev/sdX --part Y \
--label "Linux" \
--loader '\vmlinuz-linux' \
--unicode 'root=UUID=your_uuid initrd=\initramfs-linux.img another_argument=another_value'
And with that you can make your TTY as fabulous as 16-color bitmap fonts can be, enjoy!