Matrix Overlays Without Stopping Your Panes

Nash 0.10.2 adds two visual overlays: Matrix, which covers the existing panes in a tab, and Matrix Rain, which covers only the active pane. Both draw over terminal output without stopping the programs underneath.

The distinction matters when a tab contains several shells. You can cover the whole working layout or put falling code over one pane while leaving its neighbors readable. Neither action closes a shell or replaces its output.

Choose the Scope First

Run Toggle Matrix from the command palette or View menu. Its default shortcut is SUPER+Alt+Ctrl+Shift+M: Cmd+Option+Control+Shift+M on macOS. Matrix fills all existing panes in the active tab with dense green code, shifting highlights, and layered trails.

Other tabs are unaffected. A pane created after you enabled the effect is not automatically covered, so do not assume that a tab-wide toggle also applies to future splits. Toggle Matrix again to reveal the terminal's current output, not a frozen image of what was visible when you started.

For a smaller effect, choose Toggle Matrix Rain from the same palette or menu. It draws falling code over the active pane only. There is no default shortcut for this command in 0.10.2; the palette is the direct way to try it without changing your bindings.

Tune Each Effect Separately

The two modes have independent settings in nash.toml: [matrix] and [matrix_rain]. Adjust one without making the other look or move the same way. The controls cover color, speed, glyph size, density, and trails, with optional glow and a login-name intro.

Entry and exit effects are configurable too. Choose takeover/decode, morph, or fade transitions and adjust their timing. Matrix uses fades by default. Start with the shipped values, then change one aspect at a time so you can judge its effect on the result. The configuration guide explains how to inspect the defaults bundled with your installed build.

Covered Does Not Mean Locked

In 0.10.2, panes keep running and still receive keyboard and mouse input while covered. An invisible shell can still accept a command. These effects are not screen locks, process suspension, or a way to protect a session from input. Turn the overlay off before typing if you need to see what a program receives.

A later release changes part of that behavior: Nash 0.11.1 blocks keyboard input while tab-wide Matrix is active, except for its toggle shortcut. Programs still run and mouse input still reaches panes. That later keyboard restriction should not be assumed when using the original 0.10.2 release, and it does not make Matrix a security boundary.