Minicom

Minicom is a text-based serial communication program for Unix-like operating systems. It provides terminal emulation and modem-control capabilities that enable a user to connect to devices over serial ports. The program emulates a VT100/ANSI terminal and is commonly used to interact with routers, switches, embedded systems, and other equipment via RS-232 or USB-to-serial adapters.

Key features include configurable serial parameters such as baud rate, data bits, parity, and stop bits, as well as support for hardware (RTS/CTS) and software (XON/XOFF) flow control. Minicom can perform simple line editing and local echo control. It also supports file transfers using XMODEM, YMODEM, and ZMODEM protocols, which facilitates firmware uploads or data exchange over the serial link.

Configuration and usage: On most systems, Minicom is set up by running minicom -s to enter a setup menu, where the user selects the serial device (for example /dev/ttyUSB0), baud rate, and other options. It can also be started directly with minicom -D /dev/ttyUSB0 -b 115200. Minicom stores user-specific configurations in ~/.minirc.dfl, while a system-wide default may be kept in /etc/minirc.dfl.

Operation: Minicom uses a command prefix to access additional actions and help, typically via a key combination after which a help menu is displayed. Exiting or changing sessions is performed through the available command options within the program’s interface.

See also: PuTTY, screen, and other terminal programs. Minicom remains a widely available tool in many Unix-like environments and is commonly included in packaging repositories for Linux, BSD, and related platforms.