Previews

Sixel inline images protocol (gifgrep)

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Sixel inline images protocol (gifgrep)

Sixel terminals render bitmap data from DEC Sixel escape sequences. gifgrep uses Sixel for inline still thumbnails and TUI previews when detection selects it.

Known useful targets:

  • Windows Terminal 1.22+
  • WezTerm
  • xterm with sixel graphics enabled
  • mintty / MSYS2 terminals

Detection:

  • WT_SESSION selects Sixel for Windows Terminal.
  • TERM_PROGRAM=WezTerm selects Sixel.
  • TERM values containing sixel select Sixel.
  • GIFGREP_INLINE=sixel forces it.

Unlike Kitty graphics, Sixel has no gifgrep-managed image id to delete or native animation timeline. gifgrep redraws decoded PNG frames into the same cell area for animated TUI previews.

References:

  • Windows Terminal Preview 1.22 release: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/commandline/windows-terminal-preview-1-22-release/
  • PowerShell Sixel module: https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/Sixel