The best terminal ui libraries, according to hackers
14 terminal ui libraries recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.
- Most recommendedRatatui57 people recommend it
- Least regretCharm TUI libraries10 recommend, 0 criticize
All terminal ui libraries
- RatatuiRust library for building terminal user interfaces, praised for easy layout and nice results. Main caveat: only a dozen built-in widgets, so basics need third-party dependencies.57recommend
- Bubble TeaGo framework for building terminal user interfaces; people praise its ergonomics, aesthetics and reliability. Common caveat: it imposes its Elm-style architecture on projects.37recommend
- TextualPython library for terminal UIs; people praise its widgets, polish and ease of use. Main caveat: a single maintainer and a stale roadmap.34recommend
- Turbo VisionPeople recommend it as a long-admired object-oriented framework for building terminal user interfaces, praising its original DOS-era design. Main caveat: documentation is hard to find.26recommend
- InkPopular React-based library for building componentized terminal interfaces, free and open source. Critics say its clear-and-redraw rendering causes flicker, lag and bugs.13recommend
- Charm RubyFans praise Charm's polished terminal aesthetics and the new possibilities its Ruby library opens up for building text user interfaces.12recommend
- Charm TUI librariesGo libraries for building terminal apps with a playful look and feel. Critics worry it leans too heavily on GUI-style popovers and buttons.10recommend
- OpenTUIFeature-rich TUI library with a modern custom renderer. Several apps switched to it and reported better results.8recommend
- Lip GlossA Go library for styling terminal user interfaces, recommended as a mature, robust part of the Go plus Bubble Tea stack for building rich TUIs.6recommend
- NotcursesLets terminal apps get the most from any terminal, including graphics. Main caveat: documentation is incomplete and the project may be close to abandoned.6recommend
- Final Cut C++ libraryRecommended as a C++ library for building terminal user interfaces with full Unicode support and a custom font. Critics point out that the name clashes with Apple's Final Cut Pro.6recommend
- GridlandFree tool for making terminal apps that also run in the browser; people praise its smooth, near-instant updates and find it fun.6recommend
- Chalk npm libraryA terminal coloring library people rely on so they need not handle terminal complexity; critics say a dependency just for colors is unnecessary now.5recommend
- FrankenTUIRust library for building terminal user interfaces, praised for its mathematically heavy design. Critics report subtle breakage, including no text selection or scrollbar interaction.5recommend