Fount: A Terminal-Based Fountain Editor for Writers
Primary Purpose:
Fount is a terminal-based professional Fountain editor designed for writers who prefer a distraction-free, minimalist writing environment. It leverages Rust for efficiency and offers a "Zen Studio" aesthetic, focusing on the essentials to enhance creativity and productivity.
Key Features:
15+ Built-in Themes: Customize your workspace with themes like Catppuccin, Nord, Everforest, and Lilac to match your mood.
Story-Map Navigation: Use Scene Tree (Ctrl+T) or Character Sidebar (Ctrl+L) for quick navigation through your screenplay's structure.
X-Ray Analysis: Visualize pacing, character frequency, and scene length in real-time using the X-Ray mode (/xray).
Story Architect Mode: Plan your story with index cards in a grid-based layout via (/ic).
Writing Sprints: Stay productive with built-in sprints and track session history.
Search & Replace: Utilize a powerful, interactive find-and-replace workflow.
Audience & Benefit:
Ideal for writers, screenwriters, and content creators seeking a focused tool to enhance their writing process. Fount provides a professional, efficient environment that minimizes distractions, allowing users to concentrate on their craft with ease.
Installation:
Fount can be installed via winget, offering seamless integration into your workflow. Experience the simplicity and power of Fount today.
README
FOUNT
Blockbusters in Terminal
Fount
Fount is a minimal, distraction-free Fountain screenplay editor built for writers who live in the terminal. It blends the raw efficiency of Rust with a "Zen Studio" aesthetic, providing a writing experience that feels professional, focused, and deeply personal.
🚀 Installation
Linux
Arch Linux (AUR):
yay -S fount-bin
Debian / Ubuntu: Download the latest .deb package from the Releases page.
Fedora / RHEL: Download the latest .rpm package from the Releases page.
Any Platform (via Cargo)
cargo install fount
Windows
macOS
Cargo: cargo install fount (for best results, use a terminal with Truecolor support like iTerm2 or Ghostty)
✍️ Developer's Note
> [!NOTE]
> A Letter from the Creator
>
> As a credited Tamil/Indian screenwriter—writing predominantly in English and Tanglish—I found myself at a crossroads when I transitioned to Linux. I deeply missed Beat, my long-time companion for storytelling, and couldn't find a minimalist alternative that felt "right" in the terminal.
>
> My search led me to Lottie, whose elegance immediately captivated me. I cloned the project and began shaping it into the tool I needed. While I possess a moderate grasp of Rust, this journey was significantly smoothed by the partnership of AI Agents like Claude and Gemini.
>
> AI was instrumental in helping me overcome technical hurdles, complicated logic, and the often frustrating nuances of software release workflows. Fount is the result of my creative vision and little bit of coding background, the open-source code that inspired me, and the intelligence of the agents that helped me build it. It is a tool I use daily, and I hope it serves you just as well.
Fount is a dedicated writing environment designed to disappear while you work.
🎨 15+ Built-in Themes
Cycle through curated themes like Catppuccin, Nord, Everforest, and the new Lilac to suit your mood.
🗺️ Story-Map Navigation
Toggle the Scene Tree (Ctrl+T) or Character Sidebar (Ctrl+L) to jump through your screenplay's structure or analyze character presence.
📊 X-Ray Analysis
Visualize your screenplay's pacing, character frequency, and scene length distribution in real-time using X-Ray (/xray) mode
🃏 Story Architect (Index Cards)
Plot your story at a high level using the grid-based Index Cards (/ic) mode.
⏱️ Writing Sprints
Stay productive with built-in Writing Sprints (/sprint) and track your session history.
🔍 Search & Replace
A powerful find-and-replace workflow with interactive highlighting.
🏛️ Inspiration & Credits
Fount stands on the shoulders of giants. This project would not have been possible without the inspiration and foundational work of the following:
Lottie: My immediate inspiration. Fount began as a fork and evolution of this beautiful terminal editor.
Beat: The gold standard for minimalist screenwriting software. Fount is my attempt to bring the spirit of Beat to the Linux terminal.
Fountain.io: The universal screenplay format that powers modern independent screenwriting.
> [!IMPORTANT]
> A massive thank you to the creators of these tools. Their commitment to the craft of writing and software design continues to inspire creators worldwide.
