macOS: Ghostty hidden on launch

[br4n-d0n]

OS: macOS 13.7.5
Ghostty: 1.1.3

Issue:
The Ghostty window is hidden on first launch and requires a second click of the icon for the window to show.

How to reproduce:

1. Have Terminal open before launching Ghostty
2. Launch Ghostty

ghostty_hidden_720p.mov

How to avoid:
Make sure Terminal is not running before launching Ghostty

[edrozenberg]

Try a reboot if you haven't already.

Are you using any 3rd party window mgmt utilities that might be interfering.

Only happens with a Terminal window focused? What if some other window (Finder etc) is visible/focused?

Do you have other Ghostty windows on other spaces?

Try various values for https://ghostty.org/docs/config/reference#window-save-state and see if it makes a difference.

If you're willing to try the dev version set auto-update-channel = tip and check for in-app updates.

I haven't seen this issue on my Mac.

[br4n-d0n]

1. That was recorded on a fresh reboot, but I tried again just to be certain
2. No, I use stock macOS
3. It only seems to happen when Terminal is open as I previously stated
4. No, I was only using the default Desktop space and no extras
5. I tried changing these settings and nothing seems to make a difference
6. I have not tried a dev version

I understand that people tend to not properly test things out before posting them, but I tried to do my due diligence before I posted this. Though, I'll admit I only skimmed the other discussions when searching to avoid duplicates.

To avoid further questions about my config I'll include it below.

# disable auto-updates
auto-update = off

# macOS icon can be changed with `macos-icon`

# disable bar curosr from shell
shell-integration-features = no-cursor

cursor-style = block
#cursor-invert-fg-bg = true

window-padding-balance = true

theme = catppuccin-frappe
#theme = catppuccin-macchiato

# font ligatures
	# enable calt for font healing
font-feature = -calt
font-feature = -liga
font-feature = -dlig

# font ligature stylistic sets
font-feature = -ss01
font-feature = -ss02
font-feature = -ss03
font-feature = -ss04
font-feature = -ss05
font-feature = -ss06
font-feature = -ss07
font-feature = -ss08

font-family = PT Mono
font-size = 16
font-thicken = true

# title for security issue
title = ghostty

Now my turn.

You say it doesn't happen on your Mac, but are you running the same macOS version on an Intel based Mac?

Have you followed your own questions and done the above?

[00-kat]

I understand that people tend to not properly test things out before posting them, but I tried to do my due diligence before I posted this.

I know it's not a good idea to extrapolate too much on tone from written conversation, but it reads like you're taking offense at the comment, so I want to say:

1. The above commenter couldn't have known.
2. Even if you tried to test everything, you could have easily forgotten about something until someone mentioned it.

[mitchellh]

It's a very clean set of reproduction steps but unfortunately I've not been able to reproduce this.

I've tried on 3 separate Macs owned by 3 separate people (all running latest macOS, 2 developers and 1 non-developer). This doesn't happen. I unfortunately don't know anyone running macOS 13 to check if this is a macOS 13-only thing.

[mitchellh]

Thanks for following up on this. I can spin up a macOS 13 VM to verify, that's not too much work for me. Stand by.

[mitchellh]

Okay, I spun up a macOS 13 VM and wasn't able to exhibit this issue. I am suspecting it's something related to your system (regardless of if it's a Ghostty bug or not), so we'll need some more investigation on your part. Sorry.

[br4n-d0n]

@mitchellh I finally figured out how to fix and reproduce it on my machine.

If I turn off "Secure Keyboard Entry" in Terminal settings then there is no issue when launching Ghostty for the first time. However, if that setting is turned on, it will cause the issue where Ghostty will not show on launch.

Let me know if this helps reproduce it on your end.

[mitchellh]

Thanks, that's interesting but I'm still unable to reproduce that both on my machine and my macOS 13 VM. The steps I took:

1. Launch Ghostty
2. Toggle secure terminal entry in the menu bar (on)
3. Close Ghostty
4. Launch Terminal.app
5. Launch Ghostty via the Dock

Ghostty appeared on top for me.

[br4n-d0n]

@mitchellh I may have confused you so I'll write up the steps and provide a video. I'll also note that I have Lockdown Mode enabled if that makes a difference.

Issue:

1. Launch Terminal
2. Enable Secure Keyboard Entry
3. Launch Ghostty
4. Ghostty is hidden on launch

Fix (for me at least):

1. Launch Termianl
2. Disable Secure Keyboard Entry
3. Launch Ghostty
4. Ghostty shows the first time it's launched

terminal-ghostty-secure-input-bug.mov

If after all of this and no one can reproduce it, I'll just chalk it up to some issue with my current setup.