Curses: A Guide to Using Python’s Terminal Library

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Are you ready to learn how to use Python’s curses library? This guide will help you create awesome terminal apps that look as cool as neon signs on a rainy night. First: let’s install the package if you haven’t already done so by running this command in your terminal:

# This line installs the python-curses package using the pip command
# pip is a package management system used to install and manage software packages written in Python
# install is a pip command used to install packages
# python-curses is the name of the package being installed

#!/bin/bash
# This line specifies the interpreter to be used, in this case, bash

echo "Are you ready to learn how to use Python's curses library?"
# This line prints the given string to the terminal

echo "This guide will help you create awesome terminal apps that look as cool as neon signs on a rainy night."
# This line prints the given string to the terminal

echo "First: let's install the package if you haven't already done so by running this command in your terminal:"
# This line prints the given string to the terminal

pip install python-curses
# This line installs the python-curses package using the pip command
# pip is a package management system used to install and manage software packages written in Python
# install is a pip command used to install packages
# python-curses is the name of the package being installed

Now, let’s create our very own calculator using Curses! Here’s what it looks like in action:

![Curses Calculator](https://i.imgur.com/V7ZXc0M.gif)

To get started, we first need to import the curses library and set up our window with some basic settings:

# Import the curses library
import curses

# Initialize the standard screen
stdscr = curses.initscr()

# Disable echoing of characters to console
curses.noecho()

# Turn off line buffering
curses.cbreak()

# Hide cursor
curses.curs_set(0)

Next, let’s add some text and input fields:

# Import the curses library
import curses

# Define the main function
def main():
    # Initialize the curses screen
    stdscr = curses.initscr()
    
    # Add a welcome message to the screen
    stdscr.addstr("Welcome to the Curses Calculator!")
    
    # Add a message prompting the user to enter the first number
    stdscr.addstr("\nEnter first number: ")
    
    # Get user input for the first number and convert it to an integer
    num1 = int(stdscr.getstr())
    
    # Clear the screen
    stdscr.clear()
    
    # Add a message prompting the user to enter the second number
    stdscr.addstr("Enter second number: ")
    
    # Get user input for the second number and convert it to an integer
    num2 = int(stdscr.getstr()) 
    
# Call the main function
main()

# Close the curses screen
curses.endwin()

# The purpose of this script is to create a simple calculator using the curses library. 
# The main function is defined to contain all the necessary code for the calculator. 
# The curses library is imported to allow for the use of curses functions. 
# The curses screen is initialized using the initscr() function. 
# A welcome message is added to the screen using the addstr() function. 
# A message prompting the user to enter the first number is added to the screen. 
# The getstr() function is used to get user input for the first number, which is then converted to an integer using the int() function. 
# The screen is cleared using the clear() function. 
# A message prompting the user to enter the second number is added to the screen. 
# The getstr() function is used again to get user input for the second number, which is also converted to an integer. 
# Finally, the main function is called and the curses screen is closed using the endwin() function.

In this example, we’re using the `addstr()` function to add text to our window and the `getstr()` function to get user input as an integer. We also clear the screen between each step so that it looks cleaner.

Now let’s do some math!

# Import necessary libraries
import curses

# Initialize the screen
stdscr = curses.initscr()

# Get user input as integers
num1 = int(stdscr.getstr().decode())
num2 = int(stdscr.getstr().decode())

# Calculate sum of numbers
result = num1 + num2

# Clear screen
stdscr.clear()

# Display result on screen
stdscr.addstr("Result: {}".format(result))

# Update the window with new text
curses.doupdate()

# Close the screen
curses.endwin()

# The script uses the `addstr()` function to add text to the window and the `getstr()` function to get user input as an integer.
# The `clear()` function is used to clear the screen between each step for a cleaner display.
# The `decode()` function is used to convert the user input from bytes to string.
# The `format()` function is used to insert the result into the string for display.
# The `doupdate()` function is used to update the window with the new text.
# The `endwin()` function is used to close the screen and return to the terminal.

In this example, we’re calculating the sum of `num1` and `num2`, clearing the screen again, adding the result to our window using string formatting, and updating the window with `doupdate()`.

And that’s it! You now have a basic understanding of how Curses works in Python. With this knowledge, you can create all sorts of terminal apps like text editors, games, and more.

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