Integrating ANSI Escape Code Sequences with Curses using cusser

Integrating ANSI Escape Code Sequences with Curses using cusser

Are you looking to enhance your terminal-based applications with advanced features and a more visually appealing user interface? Look no further! In this article, we will explore cusser, a lightweight Python package that enables seamless integration of ANSI escape code sequences with curses.

What is cusser?

cusser is a Python package that wraps the curses standard window object and intercepts ANSI escape code sequences. By doing so, it allows you to leverage the power of ANSI escape codes within your curses-based applications. This means you can easily incorporate features such as colored text, cursor movement, background colors, and more, to create visually stunning terminal interfaces.

Features of cusser

1. Integration with curses: cusser seamlessly integrates with the standard curses module, making it easy to enhance your existing curses-based applications.
2. Use familiar escape code sequences: cusser allows you to use the same escape code sequences that you would use with other libraries like Colorama. This means you can leverage your existing knowledge and easily incorporate ANSI escape codes into your applications.
3. Lightweight dependency: cusser has only one dependency, which is the stransi library. This ensures a minimal footprint and makes it easy to incorporate cusser into your projects without worrying about bloated dependencies.
4. Compatibility with Python 3.8+: cusser is compatible with Python 3.8 and above, ensuring that you can leverage the latest Python features while working with cusser.

Installation and Usage

To get started with cusser, simply install the package using pip:

console
$ pip install cusser

Once installed, you can import the cusser module and start integrating ANSI escape codes into your curses-based applications. Here’s an example of how to use cusser:

“`python
import curses
from cusser import Cusser

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

# Custom terminal manipulation using ANSI escape codes
# ...

stdscr.refresh()
stdscr.getch()

curses.wrapper(app)
“`

Example: Enhancing a curses-based application with cusser

Let’s say you have a curses-based application and you want to add colored text and custom cursor positioning. With cusser, you can accomplish this using ANSI escape codes. For example, you can change the text color to green, move the cursor to position (0, 0), and print the message “Hello cusser!” using the following code:

python
ultra_violet = (100, 83, 148)
x, y = 0, 0
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 🤬!"
)

This allows you to create visually appealing and dynamic terminal interfaces that enhance the user experience.

Conclusion

cusser is a powerful tool that enables developers to leverage ANSI escape code sequences within their curses-based applications. By combining the flexibility of ANSI escape codes with the features of curses, you can create visually stunning and interactive terminal interfaces. Give cusser a try and take your terminal-based applications to the next level!

If you have any questions or want to learn more about cusser, feel free to ask during our upcoming technical documentation presentation.

References

• cusser GitHub repository: getcuia/cusser
• Python curses documentation: docs.python.org/3/library/curses.html
• ANSI escape code sequences: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI_escape_code
• stransi library: getcuia/stransi

Author: Blake Bradford