picocom

The minimal terminal-native serial console

• Version recorded: 3.1
• Categories: serial-terminals, workstation
• Upstream: https://github.com/npat-efault/picocom

What it does

picocom: a tiny, keyboard-only serial terminal that runs in your shell -- open a device at a baud rate and talk to it.

Why you would want it

The unixy answer: no GUI, nothing to configure, ideal over SSH into a headless station or on a Pi. What experienced operators reach for once the GUI novelty wears off.

Before it will work

Access to the serial device -- membership of the dialout group, which the workstation profile arranges. A programming cable or rig data port.

How it installs

• apt: picocom

Known problems

Escape sequences (Ctrl-A Ctrl-X to quit) take a moment to learn; the manpage is short and complete. Needs dialout.

Keeping it current

• probe: apt policy
• strategy: apt_upgrade

Where to get help with the software itself

The picocom project on GitHub.

Source: catalog/packages/picocom.yaml