[chris_st]

I remember in early(ish) Linux, the terminal programs had a setting to be at least partly transparent, so your desktop background (and other windows? I forget) could show through.

Wound up constraining what desktops you could choose, and how you had to set up your terminal colors. And since I prefer dark text on a light background, it didn't work for me from the beginning.

I imagine those programs still have those settings, but I don't see that behavior in screen-shots of programs any more.

[mdtusz]

This can be a surprisingly useful tool at times - I've definitely used it to advantage when doing creative coding so that the graphic or animation is displayed behind my terminal and I can see and edit the code at the same time as viewing the effect without switching windows.

Of course, a second monitor can do this too and without the downsides, but sometimes you're away from your desk and it's a nice workflow.

[chris_st]

Cool! I would not have thought of that!

[njharman]

I do this while programming. Very very low transparency. To see status/output. of windows behind.

Hmm, I guess I don't do this anymore. Since getting giant 4k TV/monitor. So, guess it had use in constrained screen realstate times

[chris_st]

Clever, don't think I'd have thought of that.

[speedgoose]

It still exists but now you can blur the background. I have that with Windows Terminal and WSL and it looks pretty good.

[wincy]

iTerm on Mac still has this option, if you want it. I tried it for about ten minutes and then turned it back off.