A Python Package for Curses and ANSI Escape Code Sequences

December 21, 2023

Exploring Cusser: A Python Package for Curses and ANSI Escape Code Sequences

When it comes to creating interactive and visually appealing terminal applications, developers often turn to the curses library in Python. However, working with curses and managing ANSI escape code sequences can be cumbersome. That’s where the cusser Python package comes into play.

What is Cusser?

Cusser is a lightweight Python package that simplifies the integration of curses with ANSI escape code sequences. It functions by wrapping the curses standard window object and intercepting escape code sequences. This makes it easier than ever to incorporate color, formatting, and other visual enhancements into terminal applications.

Key Features

Seamless Integration: Cusser seamlessly integrates with the standard curses module, making it easy to enhance terminal applications with ANSI escape code sequences.
Familiar Syntax: With cusser, you can use the same escape code sequences as you would with Colorama, making it simple to transition from other libraries.
Minimal Dependencies: Cusser only has one dependency – stransi, a library for parsing escape code sequences.
Python 3.8+: Cusser is compatible with Python versions 3.8 and above.

Installation

To start using cusser in your Python projects, you can simply install it using pip:

console $ pip install cusser

Usage

Here’s a quick example to get you started with cusser:

“`python
import curses
from cusser import Cusser

def app(stdscr):
if not isinstance(stdscr, Cusser):
stdscr = Cusser(stdscr)

ultra_violet = (100, 83, 148)
x, y = 34, 12
stdscr.addstr(
    f"\033[2J\033[{x};{y}H"
    "\033[1;32mHello "
    f"\033[;3;38;2;{';'.join(map(str, ultra_violet))}m"
    "cusser"
    "\033[m 🤬!"
)
stdscr.refresh()
stdscr.getch()

curses.wrapper(app)
“`

Visual Enhancements

With cusser, you can effortlessly add color, formatting, and more to your terminal applications. Check out this screenshot for an example:

Screenshot

Credits

The photo used in the cusser banner is by Gwendal Cottin on Unsplash.

Now that you have a good understanding of cusser, you can start creating visually stunning and interactive terminal applications. Install cusser today and get ready to take your terminal-based projects to the next level!

Feel free to reach out with any questions or to share your cusser-powered creations.

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