What is the GLSL shader black hole?

A GLSL shader for Ghostty terminal that places a growing black hole on your screen. It expands over 55 minutes of work and shrinks after a 5-minute break — no extra software needed.

How do I install this GLSL shader?

Download the file from GitHub (s0xDk/ghostty-blackhole) and add it to your Ghostty config. Requires Ghostty version 1.3 or later.

Does this GLSL shader actually improve productivity?

Yes. Its 55+5 minute cycle mirrors the Pomodoro Technique, which is proven to sustain focus and reduce errors over long work sessions.

GLSL Shader Builds a Black Hole That Grows If You Don't Rest.

A viral GLSL shader for Ghostty terminal creates a black hole that grows the longer you work. Take a break and it shrinks. Here's how it works.

Ever lost track of time staring at lines of code? A developer has made that invisible habit impossible to ignore. Meet the black hole that lives inside your terminal. It expands. It distorts. It swallows your workspace. And it only stops when you take a break.

Developer @s13k_ released a custom GLSL shader for the Ghostty terminal emulator on June 10, 2026. It has since gone viral across developer communities on X and Reddit.

https://x.com/RT_com/status/2065054608880214228

Here is how it works

The shader places a dynamic black hole directly inside your terminal window. It comes with a glowing photon ring and gravitational lensing effects. As you keep working without a pause, it slowly grows. Text around it begins to warp and distort.

Take a five-minute break. It shrinks away quietly. Ignore it past the 55-minute mark. It becomes impossible to work around.

One thoughtful detail: the bottom of the terminal where your command prompt lives is never distorted. The tool stays functional, no matter how dramatic things get.

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Why does GLSL Shader Matter?

Most break reminders are pushy. Pop-up timers interrupt your flow. Productivity trackers feel invasive. This shader does none of that. It sits silently inside your existing workspace. It nudges. It does not demand.

This design echoes the popular Pomodoro Technique, which recommends structured rest intervals to protect cognitive performance and reduce errors over long sessions.

Health experts also back the 20-20-20 rule for heavy screen users. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It reduces digital eye strain and prevents repetitive stress injuries.

Health experts also recommend the 20-20-20 rule for those logging long screen hours:

Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to reduce digital eye strain.

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The shader is available on GitHub under s0xDk/ghostty-blackhole. It requires Ghostty version 1.3 or later.

In a world where software is built to keep you glued to screens, it is rare to find a tool designed around one quiet idea: knowing when to stop.and prevent repetitive stress injuries.

The response has been remarkable. A demo video shared on X accumulated hundreds of thousands of views within hours.

GLSL Shader Alert: This Black Hole in Your Terminal Grows Every Time You Forget to Rest

Here is how it works

Why does GLSL Shader Matter?