Can terminal be launched via keyboard shortcut: CTRL+ALT+T?

Solution 1:

Keyboard Maestro

You can do this with Keyboard Maestro, using a macro such as this:

Alfred

You can set up a custom hotkey to launch an app using a workflow:

Go to the workflows tab, create a new workflow and add a hotkey and a 'launch apps' with Terminal selected as the app to launch.

KeyRemap4MacBook

You can use KeyRemap4MacBook with a private.xml such as this:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<root>
  <vkopenurldef>
    <name>KeyCode::VK_OPEN_URL_Terminal</name>
    <url>file:///Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app</url>
  </vkopenurldef>
  <item>
    <name>Activate Terminal with ⌘Space</name>
    <identifier>ActivateTerminalWithCmdSpace</identifier>
    <autogen>
      __KeyToKey__
      KeyCode::SPACE, VK_COMMAND | ModifierFlag::NONE,
      KeyCode::VK_OPEN_URL_Terminal
    </autogen>
  </item>
</root>

Automator Service

You can create a service in Automator:

Open Terminal

…then in System Preferences → Keyboard → Shortcuts → Services you can assign a keyboard command to run it.

Solution 2:

I was able to achieve the same behavior as Ubuntu Ctrl+Alt+T by combining following two steps:

Set up an Automator service to open iTerm2: Open Automator app, select "Quick Action" from the menu and assign it a keyboard shortcut Ctrl+command+T. This will open the app but won't open any more windows (so if the app is open the keyboard shortcut doesn't have an effect).
Add an iTerm2 key mapping to open subsequent windows. In iTerm2 preferences:

There you have it, no external app needed but far from straight forward

Solution 3:

5 months late, but I think this bit is useful.

As far as an automator solution goes this is probably a little better. Instead of running finder just use an applescript. ie add action "Utilities Run AppleScript". Run this script:

on run {input, parameters}

    tell application "Terminal"
        do script " "
        activate
    end tell

    return input
end run

This will not only open terminal, when run multiple times it will open multiple windows. Then just add a hotkey for it in services (under keyboard), as explained in George Garside's answer.