Alacritty – Can’t see cursor after up launch on Ubuntu: The Ultimate Fix

The Problem: Invisible Cursor Syndrome

So, you’ve recently installed Alacritty on your Ubuntu system, and everything seems to be working fine, except for one tiny (or rather, invisible) problem: you can’t see the cursor! Yes, you read that right – the cursor has vanished into thin air, leaving you staring at a blank screen, wondering what just happened.

Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many users have reported this issue, and in this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to resolve it once and for all.

Cause of the Problem: A Brief Explanation

The main reason behind this issue is the way Alacritty handles cursor visibility. By default, Alacritty sets the cursor to invisible when it’s not in focus. This means that if you’re not actively typing or interacting with the terminal, the cursor will disappear. Sounds logical, right? However, this behavior can be problematic when you launch Alacritty from the command line or using a launcher.

Solution 1: Enable the Cursor using Command-Line Arguments

The easiest way to fix this issue is to enable the cursor using command-line arguments when launching Alacritty. Here’s how:

alacritty --cursor=block

This command tells Alacritty to display a block-shaped cursor. You can replace `block` with other cursor shapes, such as `beam`, `underscore`, or `ibar`, depending on your preference.

Alternatively, you can add this command to your `~/.bashrc` file to make it permanent:

echo "alias alacritty='alacritty --cursor=block'" >> ~/.bashrc

Reload your terminal or run `source ~/.bashrc` to apply the changes.

Solution 2: Configure Alacritty’s YAML File

If you prefer a more permanent solution, you can configure Alacritty’s YAML file to enable the cursor by default. Here’s how:

Open your Alacritty configuration file using:

alacritty --print-config > ~/.config/alacritty/alacritty.yml

This will generate a YAML file with the default settings. Open the file in your favorite editor and add the following lines:

cursor:
  shape: block

Replace `block` with your preferred cursor shape, if needed. Save the changes and restart Alacritty.

Solution 3: Use a Launcher with Custom Command

If you’re using a launcher like Ubuntu’s Dash or GNOME’s Activities Overview, you can create a custom launcher with the command-line argument to enable the cursor. Here’s how:

Create a new file in `~/.local/share/applications/alacritty.desktop` with the following contents:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Alacritty
Comment=Fast and hackable terminal emulator
Icon=alacritty
Exec=alacritty --cursor=block
Terminal=false
StartupNotify=true

Save the file and restart your system or the launcher application. You should now see the Alacritty launcher with the custom command.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If the above solutions don’t work for you, here are some common issues to check:

• Make sure you’re running the latest version of Alacritty. You can check for updates using `sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade`.
• Verify that you’ve correctly added the command-line argument or YAML configuration. Double-check for typos and syntax errors.
• If you’re using a third-party theme or plugin, try disabling it to see if it’s interfering with the cursor visibility.
• Check if another terminal emulator is running in the background, which might be stealing the focus. Close any unnecessary terminals and try again.

Conclusion

There you have it – three solutions to the pesky invisible cursor problem in Alacritty on Ubuntu. By following these steps, you should be able to get your cursor back and enjoy the blazing-fast performance of Alacritty. Remember to stay calm, take a deep breath, and don’t let the cursor get the best of you!

Solution	Description
Command-Line Arguments	Enable cursor using `alacritty –cursor=block`
YAML Configuration	Configure Alacritty’s YAML file to enable cursor by default
Custom Launcher	Create a custom launcher with the command-line argument

Which solution worked for you? Share your experience in the comments below!

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Frequently Asked Question

Having trouble with Alacritty on Ubuntu? You’re not alone! Check out these common issues and their solutions.