Quil vs GNU Screen.
The original Unix terminal multiplexer, first released in 1987. Still shipped by default on most Unix distributions.
Ships by default on virtually every Unix host.
Ships by default on virtually every Unix host. Minimal dependencies. Works on systems where you can't install anything else. A legitimate fallback when you SSH into a hardened server.
Reboot survival. AI continuity. Typed panes.
1987-era UX. No mouse support by default. Config syntax that nobody enjoys writing. Zero AI integration. No reboot persistence. No typed panes.
Screen is what every serious Unix admin learned first. It's stable, tiny, and still works on systems where tmux isn't installed. But it's a product of its era: no mouse support, no modern plugin model, no AI awareness, no reboot persistence, and a config syntax from another century.
Feature by feature.
| capability | quil | GNU Screen |
|---|---|---|
| Session persistence while the multiplexer server is running | ✓ | ✓ |
| Survives a full host reboot | ✓ | ✕ |
| └── Quil's defining capability. Everyone else loses the session on reboot. | ||
| AI session auto-resume (Claude Code, Cursor) | ✓ | ✕ |
| Typed panes (Terminal / AI / SSH / Webhook) | ✓ | ✕ |
| Plugin system | ✓ | ✕ |
| └── Quil uses declarative TOML. Zellij uses WASM. WezTerm uses Lua. tmux uses shell scripts. | ||
| Mouse support | ✓ | ✕ |
| Ghost buffers (last 500 lines instant on reconnect) | ✓ | ✕ |
| MCP server for AI agents | ✓ | ✕ |
| Notification center + idle analysis | ✓ | ✕ |
| Pane notes editor (Alt+E) | ✓ | ✕ |
| Windows native (no WSL) | ✓ | ✕ |
| Declarative keybindings (config file) | ✓ | ✓ |
Coming from GNU Screen?
If you're still on screen for everyday work, any modern multiplexer is a straight upgrade. Quil's sweet spot is if you want the modern UX and also the reboot-proof persistence that even tmux doesn't give you.
▸ Is Quil smaller than screen?
No. Quil ships as two binaries (quil + quild) totalling around 40 MB. Screen is a single ~1 MB binary. If binary size is your constraint, screen wins.
▸ Can Quil replace screen on a headless server?
Technically yes, but Quil is designed for interactive developer workflows. For pure detach-and-reattach on a headless host, screen and tmux are better targeted.
▸ Is screen actively maintained?
Yes, but slowly. Version 5.0 shipped in 2024 — the first major release since 2014.
Try them both. Pick a side.
Quil installs side-by-side with GNU Screen. Nothing to uninstall first.