From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

Xterm is neither "retro" nor limited. It is a modern GNU/Linux
virtual terminal that runs under X11 (no fucking Wayland, TYVM).

But in order to realize its potential the user must build it
according to his specifications (distro builds are lowest-common-
denominator crap).

Here are the configuration options:

Compile/Install Options:
--disable-full-tgetent disable check for full tgetent function
--with-app-class=XXX override X applications class (default XTerm)
--with-app-defaults=DIR directory in which to install resource files (EPREFIX/lib/X11/app-defaults)
--with-system-type=XXX test: override derived host system-type
--with-icon-name[=XXX] override icon name (default: mini.xterm)
--with-icon-symlink[=XXX] make symbolic link for icon name (default: xterm)
--with-pixmapdir=DIR directory in which to install pixmaps (DATADIR/pixmaps)
--with-icondir=DIR directory in which to install icons for desktop
--with-icon-theme[=XXX] install icons into desktop theme (hicolor)
--disable-desktop disable install of xterm desktop files
--with-desktop-category=XXX one or more desktop categories or auto
--with-reference=XXX program to use as permissions-reference
--with-xterm-symlink[=XXX] make symbolic link to installed xterm
--disable-openpty disable openpty, prefer other interfaces
--disable-setuid disable setuid in xterm, do not install setuid/setgid
--disable-setgid disable setgid in xterm, do not install setuid/setgid
--with-setuid[=XXX] use the given setuid user
--with-utmp-setgid[=XXX] use setgid to match utmp/utmpx file
--with-utempter use utempter library for access to utmp
--with-utmp-path=XXX use XXX rather than auto for utmp path
--with-wtmp-path=XXX use XXX rather than auto for wtmp path
--with-tty-group[=XXX] use XXX for the tty-group
--with-x use the X Window System
--with-pkg-config[=CMD] enable/disable use of pkg-config and its name CMD
--with-xpm[=DIR] use Xpm library for colored icon, may specify path
--without-xinerama do not use Xinerama extension for multiscreen support
--with-Xaw3d link with Xaw 3d library
--with-Xaw3dxft link with Xaw 3d xft library
--with-neXtaw link with neXT Athena library
--with-XawPlus link with Athena-Plus library
--disable-xcursor disable cursorTheme resource
--enable-narrowproto enable narrow prototypes for X libraries
--enable-imake enable use of imake for definitions
--with-man2html[=XXX] use XXX rather than groff
Terminal Configuration:
--with-terminal-id=V set default decTerminalID (default: vt420)
--with-terminal-type=T set default $TERM (default: xterm)
--with-xterm-kbs[=XXX] specify if xterm backspace-key sends BS or DEL
--enable-backarrow-key set default backarrowKey resource (default: true)
--enable-backarrow-is-erase set default backarrowKeyIsErase resource (default: false)
--enable-delete-is-del set default deleteIsDEL resource (default: maybe)
--enable-pty-erase set default ptyInitialErase resource (default: maybe)
--enable-alt-sends-esc set default altSendsEscape resource (default: no)
--enable-meta-sends-esc set default metaSendsEscape resource (default: no)
--with-own-terminfo[=P] set default $TERMINFO (default: from environment)
--enable-env-terminfo setenv $TERMINFO if --with-own-terminfo gives value Optional Features:
--disable-active-icon disable X11R6.3 active-icon feature
--disable-ansi-color disable ANSI color
--disable-16-color disable 16-color support
--disable-256-color disable 256-color support
--disable-direct-color disable direct-color support
--disable-88-color disable 88-color support
--disable-blink-cursor disable support for blinking cursor
--enable-block-select meta-button1 begins block-selection
--enable-broken-osc allow broken Linux OSC-strings
--disable-broken-st disallow broken string-terminators
--enable-builtin-xpms compile-in icon data
--disable-c1-print disallow -k8 option for printable 128-159
--disable-bold-color disable PC-style mapping of bold colors
--disable-color-class disable separate color class resources
--disable-color-mode disable default colorMode resource
--disable-highlighting disable support for color highlighting
--disable-doublechars disable support for double-size chars
--disable-boxchars disable fallback-support for box chars
--disable-exec-selection disable "exec-formatted" and "exec-selection" actions
--enable-exec-xterm enable "spawn-new-terminal" action
--enable-double-buffer enable double-buffering in default resources
--disable-freetype disable freetype library-support
--with-freetype-config configure script to use for FreeType
--with-freetype-cflags -D/-I options for compiling with FreeType
--with-freetype-libs -L/-l options to link FreeType
--enable-hp-fkeys enable support for HP-style function keys
--enable-sco-fkeys enable support for SCO-style function keys
--disable-sun-fkeys disable support for Sun-style function keys
--disable-fifo-lines disable FIFO-storage for saved-lines
--disable-i18n disable internationalization
--disable-initial-erase disable setup for stty erase
--disable-input-method disable input-method
--enable-load-vt-fonts enable load-vt-fonts() action
--enable-logging enable logging
--enable-logfile-exec enable exec'd logfile filter
--disable-maximize disable actions for iconify/deiconify/maximize/restore
--disable-num-lock disable NumLock keypad support
--disable-paste64 disable get/set base64 selection data
--disable-pty-handshake disable pty-handshake support
--disable-readline-mouse disable support for mouse in readline applications
--disable-regex disable regular-expression selections
--with-pcre2 use PCRE2 for regular-expressions
--with-pcre use PCRE for regular-expressions
--disable-rightbar disable right-scrollbar support
--disable-samename disable check for redundant name-change
--disable-selection-ops disable selection-action operations
--disable-session-mgt disable support for session management
--enable-status-line enable support for status-line
--disable-tcap-fkeys disable termcap function-keys support
--disable-tcap-query disable compiled-in termcap-query support
--disable-tek4014 disable tek4014 emulation
--enable-toolbar compile-in toolbar for pulldown menus
--disable-vt52 disable VT52 emulation
--disable-wide-attrs disable wide-attribute support
--disable-wide-chars disable wide-character support
--enable-16bit-chars enable 16-bit character support
--enable-mini-luit enable mini-luit (built-in Latin9 support)
--disable-luit enable luit filter (Unicode translation)
--enable-dabbrev enable dynamic-abbreviation support
--enable-dec-locator enable DECterm Locator support
--disable-screen-dumps disable XHTML and SVG screen dumps
--enable-regis-graphics enable ReGIS graphics support
--disable-sixel-graphics disable sixel graphics support
--disable-print-graphics disable screen dump to sixel support
--disable-rectangles disable VT420 rectangle support
--disable-ziconbeep disable -ziconbeep option

These are the options that I use:

--enable-wide-chars
--disable-blink-cursor
--disable-desktop
--disable-input-method
--disable-maximize
--disable-session-mgt
--disable-rightbar
--disable-samename
--disable-tek4014
--disable-ziconbeep
--disable-vt52
--disable-regex
--enable-256-color
--with-app-defaults=/usr/share/X11/app-defaults
--disable-full-tgetent
--without-xinerama
--without-utempter
--disable-broken-st
--disable-leaks
--disable-paste64
--disable-screen-dumps
--disable-sun-fkeys
--disable-sixel-graphics
--disable-imake
--enable-narrowproto

This gives me full Unicode coverage and 256 colors.

Ha, ha, ha, ha! Distro lackeys prepare for your worst nightmares!
--
Gentoo: the only road to GNU/Linux perfection.
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