Useful Minicom Defaults

I usually figure this stuff out for each minicom setup; now I can just refer here and get it right the first time.

Run minicom -s the first time to set the internal configs:

• Port typically /dev/ttyUSB0 for USB-serial adapter
• 19200 8N1 for lack of anything smarter
• No hardware flow control
• Software flow control
• Clear modem Init and Reset strings to blank
• No DCD line
• Set colors as below

Your favorite colors will differ; these are Old-Skool:

• Menu: white on blue
• Status: black on cyan
• Terminal: green on black

Save that as the overall system default.

Set command-line defaults in ~/.bashrc:

• -m to use Alt+key rather than Ctrl-A and then the key
• -c on to see those pretty colors

Which will look like

MINICOM='-m -c on'
export MINICOM

And then it Just Works…