Hey, bunker dwellers. Today, we’re putting down the JTAG programmer and picking up a piece of software that has fundamentally changed my workflow: Warp.
No, not the network app. I’m talking about Warp, the terminal.
If you think a terminal is just a terminal, you’re wrong. This is like going from a basic 25-watt RadioShack iron to a Hakko FX-888D. It’s a total reimagining of what our command-line interface should be. It’s built in Rust, it’s GPU-accelerated (it’s fast), and it’s packed with features that are genuinely useful for hackers and hardware folks.
Here’s why it’s earned a permanent spot on my dock.
1. It’s a Text Editor, Not a Typewriter
This is the first thing you’ll notice. How many times have you typed a long command, made a typo at the beginning, and had to mash the arrow key 50 times?
Warp has a modern, IDE-like text input. This means:
- Click Anywhere: Just click your mouse to place the cursor.
- Select Text: Click and drag to select text, just like in a code editor.
- Shortcuts Work:
Cmd+Zto undo?Option+RightArrowto jump a whole word? It all works. This alone is a massive quality-of-life upgrade.
2. “Blocks” — The End of the “Wall of Text”
This is the killer feature. In a normal terminal, your command and its output are just… text. If a command spews 1,000 lines, your last command is gone, scrolled into oblivion.
Warp groups your command and its output into a “Block.”
This is a game-changer for our line of work:
- Easy to Find: Just scroll up to find the block for that
nmapscan or firmware build. - Copy Output: One click to copy the entire output of a single command.
- Share a Link: You can create a permalink for a single block. Finished a device dump and need to share the (non-secret) output with a friend? Send them a link.
- Re-run: Just hit
Cmd+Enteron any block to run it again.
3. Built-in AI That Actually Helps
I know, “AI” is everywhere. But here, it’s like having a senior developer sitting next to you.
Ever get a cryptic gcc error when compiling firmware? Or forget the exact esptool.py arguments?
- Debug Errors: Get a failed command? Just click the “Warp AI” icon next to the block, and it will tell you what went wrong and suggest a fix. This is incredible for debugging build scripts.
- Ask in Plain English: Type
##and ask a question. “how to find all files modified in the last 10 minutes?” or “what’s the command to flash a file to 0x1000 with esptool?” It will generate the command for you, right in your input.
4. “Workflows”: Your Aliases on Steroids
We all have .bashrc or .zshrc files full of janky aliases. Warp’s “Workflows” are a clean, shareable replacement.
You can create a reusable, parameterized command. Think about your common tasks:
- Tool:
OpenOCD Flash - Command:
openocd -f interface/jlink.cfg -f target/stm32f4x.cfg -c "program {{path_to_bin}} 0x08000000 verify exit"
Now, instead of remembering that, you just open the workflow, it asks you for the path_to_bin, and it runs. You can build an entire library of these for different chips, tools, and scripts.
5. “Notebooks” — Your Digital Lab Book
This is the feature that really ties it all together for me. A “Notebook” is a document inside your terminal that mixes Markdown (for notes) with runnable code blocks.
Imagine creating a repair guide or a hacking runbook:
Device: XYZ Smart Plug (ESP8266)
Step 1: Identify the device lsusb | grep "CP210x"
Step 2: Backup the original firmware esptool.py --port /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART read_flash 0x0 0x100000 firmware_backup.bin
Step 3: Erase the flash esptool.py --port /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART erase_flash
You can write your notes, then just click the “run” button on the code block to execute it. No more copy-pasting from a text file.
Is It Perfect?
No. It’s proprietary (not open-source), which is a deal-breaker for some. It also requires you to log in to use the AI and collaboration features. And because it’s so different, it can break some very specific terminal tools (though 99% of my stack—ssh, git, platformio, Python scripts—works flawlessly).
The Verdict
For the work we do—running scripts, building firmware, managing servers, and poking at hardware—Warp is a monumental upgrade. The “Blocks” and AI debugging features alone save me time every single day.
Your terminal is your most-used tool. It’s time to upgrade it.
You can grab it at warp.dev. It’s free for individuals.
Let me know what you think.
