# How to write a nice (complex) console app? **URL:** \ **Category:** ruby-talk\ **Created:** [11 November 2007 14:50 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/how-to-write-a-nice-complex-console-app/42095 "2007-11-11T14:50:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anansi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@anansi](https://rubytalk.org/u/anansi)\ **Post date:** [11 November 2007 14:50 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/how-to-write-a-nice-complex-console-app/42095/1 "2007-11-11T14:50:03Z")
Hi, how can I do a nice console interface? I wanna do something like this her: > **···** > > ----------------------------------------------------- > > > Entry1 |Subitem1 of Entry1 | > > Entry2 |Subitem2 of Entry1 | > > Entry3 |Subitem3 of Entry1 | > >     \> \> > >     \>---------------------------------------| > >     \>Content of Subitem1 of Entry1 | > >     \> \> > >     \> \> > >     \> \> > >     \> \> > >     \> \> > >     \> \> > > -----------|---------------------------------------| > > With the up and down keys I wanna scroll within the three different areas. And with scroll I really mean scroll,e.g. one entry could have 10 subitems which don't fit all at once in this area so with going up & down this area must be redrawn if neccessary. The actually selected entry should also be highlighted... > > And with the left and right keys I wanna jump between the three different areas. > > But I've no idea how to do this task? > > Could someone just point me in the right direction which gem or lib I need? It should be Utf-8 compatible.. > > The whole thing shall be working under linux. > > bye ---
**Author:** ![Jason\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/94ad74/32.png) [@Jason\_R](https://rubytalk.org/u/Jason_R)\ **Post date:** [11 November 2007 15:00 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/how-to-write-a-nice-complex-console-app/42095/2 "2007-11-11T15:00:08Z")
You want ncurses. Don't know what's available for ncurses in Ruby though. Jason > **···** > > On Nov 11, 2007 9:50 AM, kazaam \ wrote: > > > Hi, > > how can I do a nice console interface? I wanna do something like this her: > > > > ----------------------------------------------------- > > \>Entry1 |Subitem1 of Entry1 | > > \>Entry2 |Subitem2 of Entry1 | > > \>Entry3 |Subitem3 of Entry1 | > > \> \> \> > > \> \>---------------------------------------| > > \> \>Content of Subitem1 of Entry1 | > > \> \> \> > > \> \> \> > > \> \> \> > > \> \> \> > > \> \> \> > > \> \> \> > > \>-----------|---------------------------------------| > > > > With the up and down keys I wanna scroll within the three different areas. > > And with scroll I really mean scroll,e.g. one entry could have 10 subitems > > which don't fit all at once in this area so with going up & down this area > > must be redrawn if neccessary. The actually selected entry should also be > > highlighted... > > > > And with the left and right keys I wanna jump between the three different > > areas. > > > > But I've no idea how to do this task? > > > > Could someone just point me in the right direction which gem or lib I > > need? It should be Utf-8 compatible.. > > > > The whole thing shall be working under linux. > > > > bye ---
**Author:** ![anansi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@anansi](https://rubytalk.org/u/anansi)\ **Post date:** [11 November 2007 15:35 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/how-to-write-a-nice-complex-console-app/42095/3 "2007-11-11T15:35:02Z")
> You want ncurses. > > Don't know what's available for ncurses in Ruby though. > > Jason thx I found a ncurses-binding for ruby and will give it a try 🙂 > **···** > > -- > kazaam \