Itter.sh is a minimalist micro-blogging platform accessed entirely through the terminal. It supports basic features like posting, replying, following users, and viewing timelines. The focus is on simplicity and speed, offering a distraction-free text-based interface for sharing short messages and connecting with others. It leverages Gemini protocol for communication, providing a lightweight alternative to web-based social media.
Fui is a lightweight C library designed for directly manipulating the Linux framebuffer within a terminal environment. It provides a simple API for drawing basic shapes, text, and images directly to the screen, bypassing the typical terminal output mechanisms. This allows for creating fast and responsive text-based user interfaces (TUIs) and other graphical elements within the terminal's constraints, offering a performance advantage over traditional terminal drawing methods. Fui aims to be easy to integrate into existing C projects with minimal dependencies.
Hacker News users discuss fui
, a C library for framebuffer interaction within a TTY. Several commenters express interest in its potential for creating simple graphical interfaces within a terminal environment and for embedded systems. Some question its practical applications compared to existing solutions like ncurses, highlighting potential limitations in handling complex layouts and input. Others praise the minimalist approach, appreciating its small size and dependency-free nature. The discussion also touches upon the library's suitability for different tasks like creating progress bars or simple games within a terminal and comparing its performance to alternatives. A few commenters share their own experiences using similar framebuffer libraries and offer suggestions for improvements to fui
.
Void is a free and open-source modern modal editor built with extensibility in mind. Written in Zig, it aims to provide a fast and responsive editing experience with a focus on keyboard-centric navigation. Key features include multiple cursors, persistent undo/redo, syntax highlighting for a variety of languages, and an embedded scripting language for customization and automation. Void is still under heavy development but strives to be a powerful and flexible alternative to existing editors.
Hacker News users discuss Void, an open-source alternative to Cursor, focusing on its licensing (AGPLv3) as a potential barrier to broader adoption. Some express skepticism about the viability of an open-source code generation assistant succeeding against closed-source competitors with more resources. However, others see the potential for community contributions and customization as Void's key advantages. The discussion touches on privacy concerns surrounding telemetry and the importance of self-hosting for sensitive code. A few comments also delve into technical details, including the choice of programming languages used (Rust and Tauri) and the potential use of local models to improve performance and privacy. Several users express interest in trying Void or contributing to its development.
Nnd is a terminal-based debugger presented as a modern alternative to GDB and LLDB. It aims for a simpler, more intuitive user experience with a focus on speed and ease of use. Key features include a built-in disassembler, register view, memory viewer, and expression evaluator. Nnd emphasizes its clean and responsive interface, striving to minimize distractions and improve the overall debugging workflow. The project is open-source and written in Rust, currently supporting debugging on Linux for x86_64, aarch64, and RISC-V architectures.
Hacker News users generally praised nnd
for its speed and simplicity compared to GDB and LLDB, particularly appreciating its intuitive TUI interface. Some commenters noted its current limitations, such as a lack of support for certain features like conditional breakpoints and shared libraries, but acknowledged its potential given it's a relatively new project. Several expressed interest in trying it out or contributing to its development. The focus on Rust debugging was also highlighted, with some suggesting its specialized nature in this area could be a significant advantage. A few users compared it favorably to other debugging tools like gdb -tui
and even IDE debuggers, suggesting its speed and simplicity could make it a preferred choice for certain tasks.
Nerdlog is a fast, terminal-based log viewer designed for efficiently viewing logs from multiple hosts simultaneously. It features a timeline histogram that provides a visual overview of log activity, allowing users to quickly identify periods of high activity or errors. Written in Rust, Nerdlog emphasizes speed and efficiency, making it suitable for handling large log files and numerous hosts. It supports filtering, searching, and highlighting to aid in analysis and supports different log formats, including journalctl output. The tool aims to streamline log monitoring and debugging in a user-friendly terminal interface.
Hacker News users generally praised Nerdlog for its speed and clean interface, particularly appreciating the timeline histogram feature for quickly identifying activity spikes. Some compared it favorably to existing tools like lnav
and GoAccess, while others suggested potential improvements such as regular expression search, customizable layouts, and the ability to tail live logs from containers. A few commenters also expressed interest in seeing features like log filtering and the option for a client-server architecture for remote log viewing. One commenter also pointed out that the project name was very similar to an existing project called "Nerd Fonts".
Undercutf1 is a terminal-based application providing live Formula 1 timing and driver tracking. It uses a text-based user interface (TUI) for a compact and efficient display of information, including race position, lap times, tyre strategies, and gaps between drivers. A key feature is its variable delay functionality, allowing users to simulate watching the race slightly delayed to avoid spoilers. This open-source project, written in Rust, aims to provide a lightweight and fast alternative to traditional graphical or web-based live timing solutions.
HN users generally praised the project for its clean interface, speed, and usefulness for following F1 races without spoilers. Some suggested improvements like adding a relative position indicator instead of just gaps, incorporating qualifying results, and displaying tire strategies. One commenter appreciated the straightforward Python implementation and the use of the blessed
library. Several users also expressed excitement about using it for the upcoming race. The project's ability to introduce an artificial delay for catching up on races was a key feature highlighted positively.
WebTUI is a CSS library designed to replicate the aesthetic of terminal user interfaces (TUIs) within web browsers. It provides a set of customizable CSS classes and utilities that enable developers to easily style HTML elements with the familiar look and feel of terminal applications, including features like blocky text, customizable color schemes, and simulated cursor effects. This allows for the creation of visually appealing, retro-inspired interfaces, dashboards, or code editors directly in the browser, offering a unique and engaging user experience.
Hacker News users generally expressed interest in WebTUI, praising its clever approach to recreating the terminal aesthetic in the browser. Some questioned its practical applications beyond novelty or specific niche use cases, wondering about accessibility and broader appeal. Several commenters compared it to other similar projects like Blessed and React Ink, noting potential advantages and disadvantages in comparison. Performance and the potential overhead of using CSS for this purpose were also discussed. One compelling comment suggested using it for browser-based command-line tools, highlighting its potential to bridge the gap between web and terminal interfaces. Another interesting comment noted the possibility of embedding terminal applications directly within a web page, opening up interesting possibilities for interactive tutorials or documentation.
Lilly is a TUI text editor built with Rust that aims to offer a modern, performant, and customizable alternative to Vim and Neovim. It prioritizes extensibility through plugins written in Lua, offering a familiar experience for Neovim users. Featuring built-in Language Server Protocol (LSP) support, tree-sitter for syntax highlighting, and asynchronous execution for responsiveness, Lilly seeks to combine the speed and efficiency of a terminal interface with the advanced features of modern GUI editors. The project is actively under development and welcomes contributions.
Hacker News users discuss Lilly, a TUI editor and potential Vim/Neovim alternative, focusing on its Lua extensibility and clean slate design. Some express excitement about a modern, scriptable TUI editor, praising its apparent performance and the potential of Lua for customization. Others question its long-term viability given the established competition, and some debate the merits of modal vs. non-modal editing. Several commenters highlight the difficulty of attracting users away from entrenched editors, while others suggest Lilly could find a niche among those seeking a simpler, more easily customized TUI experience. A few express interest in specific features like the integrated file explorer and fuzzy finder. Overall, the comments show cautious optimism tempered by an awareness of the challenges faced by new text editors.
The Ncurses library provides an API for creating text-based user interfaces in a terminal-independent manner. It handles screen painting, input, and window management, abstracting away low-level details like terminal capabilities. Ncurses builds upon the older Curses library, offering enhancements and broader compatibility. Key features include window creation and manipulation, formatted output with color and attributes, handling keyboard and mouse input, and supporting various terminal types. The library simplifies tasks like creating menus, dialog boxes, and other interactive elements commonly found in text-based applications. By using Ncurses, developers can write portable code that works across different operating systems and terminal emulators without modification.
Hacker News users discussing the ncurses intro document generally praised it as a good resource, especially for beginners. Some appreciated the historical context provided, while others highlighted the clarity and practicality of the tutorial. One commenter mentioned using it to learn ncurses for a project, showcasing its real-world applicability. Several comments pointed out modern alternatives like FTXUI (C++) and blessed-contrib (JS), acknowledging ncurses' age but also its continued relevance and wide usage in existing tools. A few users discussed the benefits of text-based UIs, citing speed, remote accessibility, and lower resource requirements.
Presenterm is a terminal-based presentation tool that uses Markdown for content creation. It leverages the power of Markdown's simplicity for writing slides and integrates seamlessly with the terminal environment, making it lightweight and portable. Presenterm supports features like syntax highlighting, custom themes, and speaker notes, allowing for dynamic and engaging presentations directly within the terminal. This offers a minimalist and efficient alternative to traditional graphical presentation software, particularly appealing to developers and command-line enthusiasts.
Hacker News users generally praised Presenterm for its simplicity and minimalist approach to terminal-based presentations. Several commenters appreciated its reliance on standard Markdown, making it easy to create and edit presentations without learning a new syntax. Some highlighted the benefit of having presentations version-controlled alongside code in Git repositories. Others suggested potential improvements, such as adding support for speaker notes, theming, and transitions. A few pointed out existing alternatives like mdp
and remarked on the trade-offs between terminal-based presentations and more feature-rich GUI options. The discussion also touched upon the niche use case of presentations within a terminal environment, with some finding it ideal for code-heavy talks and demos.
Vtm is a terminal-based desktop environment built with Python and inspired by tiling window managers. It aims to provide a lightweight and keyboard-driven workflow, allowing users to manage multiple terminal windows within a single terminal instance. Vtm utilizes a tree-like structure for window organization, enabling split layouts and tabbed interfaces. Its configuration is handled through a simple Python file, offering customization options for keybindings, colors, and startup applications. Ultimately, Vtm strives to offer a minimalist and efficient terminal experience for users who prefer a text-based environment.
Hacker News users discuss vtm, a text-based desktop environment, focusing on its potential niche use cases. Some commenters see value in its minimal resource usage for embedded systems or as a fallback interface. Others appreciate the accessibility benefits for visually impaired users or those who prefer keyboard-driven workflows. Several express interest in trying vtm out of curiosity or for specific tasks like remote server administration. A few highlight the project's novelty and the nostalgic appeal of text-based interfaces. Some skepticism is voiced regarding its practicality compared to modern graphical DEs, but the overall sentiment is positive, with many praising the developer's effort and acknowledging the potential value of such a project. A discussion arises about the use of terminology, clarifying the difference between a window manager and a desktop environment. The lightweight nature of vtm and its integration with notcurses are also highlighted.
Shelgon is a Rust framework designed for creating interactive REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop) shells. It offers a structured approach to building REPLs by providing features like command parsing, history management, autocompletion, and help text generation. Developers can define commands with associated functions, arguments, and descriptions, allowing for easy extensibility and a user-friendly experience. Shelgon aims to simplify the process of building robust and interactive command-line interfaces within Rust applications.
HN users generally praised Shelgon for its clean design and the potential usefulness of a framework for building REPLs in Rust. Several commenters expressed interest in using it for their own projects, highlighting the need for such a tool. One user specifically appreciated the use of async
/await
for asynchronous operations. Some discussion revolved around alternative approaches and existing REPL libraries in Rust, such as rustyline
and repl_rs
, with comparisons to Python's prompt_toolkit
. The project's relative simplicity and focus were seen as positive attributes. A few users suggested minor improvements, like adding command history and tab completion, features the author confirmed were planned or already partially implemented. Overall, the reception was positive, with commenters recognizing the value Shelgon brings to the Rust ecosystem.
Nebu is a minimalist spreadsheet editor designed for Varvara, a unique computer system. It focuses on simplicity and efficiency, utilizing a keyboard-driven interface with limited mouse interaction. Features include basic spreadsheet operations like calculations, cell formatting, and navigation. Nebu embraces a "less is more" philosophy, aiming to provide a distraction-free environment for working with numerical data within the constraints of Varvara's hardware and software ecosystem. It prioritizes performance and responsiveness over complex features, striving for a smooth and intuitive user experience.
Hacker News users discuss Nebu, a spreadsheet editor designed for the Varvara computer. Several commenters express interest in the project, particularly its minimalist aesthetic and novel approach to spreadsheet interaction. Some question the practicality and target audience, given Varvara's niche status. There's discussion about the potential benefits of a simplified interface and the limitations of traditional spreadsheet software. A few users compare Nebu to other minimalist or unconventional spreadsheet tools and speculate about its potential for broader adoption. Several also inquire about the specifics of its implementation and integration with Varvara's unique operating system. Overall, the comments reflect a mixture of curiosity, skepticism, and cautious optimism about Nebu's potential.
Bagels is a terminal-based expense tracker written in Python. It provides a simple text-based user interface (TUI) for recording and viewing expenses, allowing users to add transactions with descriptions, amounts, and categories. Bagels emphasizes ease of use and speed, offering features like auto-completion and quick keyboard navigation. It also supports exporting data to CSV for further analysis or use in other tools.
HN users generally praised Bagels for its simplicity and use of a text-based interface. Several commenters appreciated the developer's focus on a straightforward, easy-to-use tool that avoids unnecessary complexity. Some suggested potential improvements, like adding support for budgeting or different currencies. One user highlighted the benefit of plain text data storage for easy backups and portability. The project's reliance on Python and the textual
TUI framework also drew positive remarks. A few questioned the long-term viability of the project and suggested exploring alternatives like Ledger.
isd
is an interactive command-line tool designed to simplify working with systemd units. It provides a TUI (terminal user interface) that allows users to browse, filter, start, stop, restart, enable, disable, and edit unit files, as well as view their logs and status in real-time, all within an intuitive and interactive environment. This aims to offer a more user-friendly alternative to traditional command-line tools for managing systemd, streamlining common tasks and reducing the need to memorize complex commands.
Hacker News users generally praised the Interactive systemd (ISD) project for its intuitive and user-friendly approach to managing systemd units. Several commenters highlighted the benefits of its visual representation and the ease with which it allows users to start, stop, and restart services, especially compared to the command-line interface. Some expressed interest in specific features like log viewing and real-time status updates. A few users questioned the necessity of a TUI for systemd management, suggesting existing tools like systemctl
are sufficient. Others raised concerns about potential security implications and the project's dependency on Python. Despite some reservations, the overall sentiment towards ISD was positive, with many acknowledging its potential as a valuable tool for both novice and experienced Linux users.
Summary of Comments ( 5 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43936884
Hacker News users discussed Itter.sh, a terminal-based microblogging platform. Several commenters expressed interest in its minimalist approach and the potential for scripting and automation. Some saw it as a refreshing alternative to mainstream social media, praising its simplicity and focus on text. However, concerns were raised about scalability and the limited audience of terminal users. The reliance on email for notifications was seen as both a positive (privacy-respecting) and negative (potentially inconvenient). A few users suggested potential improvements, like adding support for images or alternative notification methods. Overall, the reaction was cautiously optimistic, with many intrigued by the concept but questioning its long-term viability.
The Hacker News post for Itter.sh – Micro-Blogging via Terminal has generated a moderate amount of discussion, with several commenters expressing interest in the concept and its potential uses.
A few commenters focus on the practical implications of a terminal-based microblogging platform. One user questions the target audience, wondering if it's specifically for developers or has broader appeal. Another commenter highlights the value proposition for users who already spend significant time in the terminal, suggesting it could be a convenient way to quickly share updates or snippets of information without leaving their current workflow. This user also expresses a desire for mobile compatibility, pointing out that a terminal experience could be beneficial on mobile devices as well.
Several commenters delve into the technical aspects of Itter.sh. Discussion revolves around the use of WebSockets for real-time updates, with one user questioning the necessity of persistent connections and proposing alternative approaches like long-polling or server-sent events. Another comment thread explores the choice of the Go programming language for the backend, acknowledging its performance benefits but also raising concerns about potential memory usage for handling a large number of concurrent connections. One user inquires about the database technology used, speculating about potential scalability challenges.
Some commenters discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of the minimalist design. While some appreciate the simplicity and focus on functionality, others express a desire for additional features like threading or private messaging. One user draws a comparison to other terminal-based social platforms like
twtxt
, emphasizing the importance of federation and interoperability.Finally, a few comments touch on the broader implications of a terminal-centric approach to social media. One user suggests that it could offer a more focused and less distracting experience compared to traditional graphical interfaces. Another commenter raises the question of discoverability and how a terminal-based platform might attract new users.
Overall, the comments on Hacker News reflect a mixture of curiosity, technical analysis, and cautious optimism about Itter.sh. Many see the potential for a niche community to form around the platform, while others remain skeptical about its long-term viability and mainstream appeal.