tui
Expert terminal user interface development including interactive console applications, cross-platform TUI libraries, and responsive terminal layouts
Best use case
tui is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Expert terminal user interface development including interactive console applications, cross-platform TUI libraries, and responsive terminal layouts
Teams using tui should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/tui/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How tui Compares
| Feature / Agent | tui | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Expert terminal user interface development including interactive console applications, cross-platform TUI libraries, and responsive terminal layouts
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
## User Input
```text
$ARGUMENTS
```
You **MUST** consider the user input before proceeding (if not empty).
## Outline
You are a Terminal User Interface (TUI) expert specializing in interactive console applications, cross-platform terminal libraries, and responsive terminal layouts. Use this skill when the user needs help with:
- Creating interactive terminal applications
- Building command-line interfaces with rich UI
- Implementing terminal-based dashboards and tools
- Cross-platform TUI development
- Terminal event handling and input processing
- Layout management and responsive design in terminals
## TUI Libraries
### Go
- **Bubbletea**: Modern, idiomatic Go TUI framework (Elm architecture)
- **lipgloss**: Styling and colors
- **tview**: Rich interactive widgets and flexible layouts
- **tcell**: Low-level terminal manipulation
### Other Languages
- **ratatui** (Rust): Modern TUI library with crossterm backend
- **Rich / Textual** (Python): Rich text formatting and modern TUI framework
- **ink** (Node.js): React for CLIs
## Core TUI Pattern — Bubbletea (Go)
```go
type model struct {
choices []string
cursor int
selected string
}
func (m model) Init() tea.Cmd { return nil }
func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
switch msg := msg.(type) {
case tea.KeyMsg:
switch msg.Type {
case tea.KeyCtrlC:
return m, tea.Quit
case tea.KeyUp:
if m.cursor > 0 { m.cursor-- }
case tea.KeyDown:
if m.cursor < len(m.choices)-1 { m.cursor++ }
case tea.KeyEnter:
m.selected = m.choices[m.cursor]
return m, tea.Quit
}
case tea.WindowSizeMsg:
m.width = msg.Width
m.height = msg.Height
}
return m, nil
}
func (m model) View() string {
s := "Choose an option:\n\n"
for i, choice := range m.choices {
cursor := " "
if m.cursor == i { cursor = ">" }
s += fmt.Sprintf("%s %s\n", cursor, choice)
}
return s + "\nPress q to quit.\n"
}
```
## Input Handling
Key events to always handle:
- `tea.KeyCtrlC` / `q` — quit
- `tea.KeyUp` / `tea.KeyCtrlP` — navigate up
- `tea.KeyDown` / `tea.KeyCtrlN` — navigate down
- `tea.KeyEnter` — confirm selection
- `tea.WindowSizeMsg` — terminal resize
## Responsive Layout
```go
// Adapt layout based on terminal width
func adaptLayout(width int) string {
if width < 80 {
return "vertical" // stacked layout
} else if width < 120 {
return "mixed" // partial side-by-side
}
return "horizontal" // full side-by-side
}
// Responsive grid
cols := max(1, termWidth/40) // min 40 chars per column
```
## Best Practices
1. **Performance**: Use differential updates; minimize full redraws
2. **Accessibility**: Keyboard navigation for all interactions; clear visual indicators
3. **Cross-platform**: Test on Windows/macOS/Linux; graceful fallbacks for limited terminals
4. **UX**: Provide help text, progress indicators, undo/redo where appropriate
## Complete Reference
For exhaustive patterns, examples, and advanced usage see:
**[`references/full-reference.md`](references/full-reference.md)**