shell exec

rovr lets you run shell commands without needing to suspend or quit.

accessing shell exec

you can open the shell exec screen by:

• pressing > (or your configured keybind)
• the modal will appear with an input field for your command

execution modes

shell exec supports three different execution modes, each suited for different use cases:

background mode

runs the command in the background without blocking rovr. ideal for long-running commands that don’t require immediate feedback.

• rovr remains responsive while the command executes
• you’ll receive a notification when the command completes with stdout/stderr output

block mode

runs the command and blocks rovr until it completes. suitable for quick commands where you want to wait for results.

• rovr waits for the command to finish
• displays stdout/stderr output in a notification
• ui remains visible but unresponsive during execution

suspend mode

suspends the rovr process and gives full control to the command being run.

• rovr suspends completely, giving full terminal control to the command
• perfect for interactive editors, shells, or TUI applications
• rovr resumes after the command exits

switching modes

cycle through execution modes by pressing Tab while in the shell exec screen. the border color indicates the current mode:

• green: background mode

• yellow: block mode

• red: suspend mode

configuration

customize the keybind in your configuration file:

[keybinds]
show_shell_screen = [">"]