Stories with Tag terminal user interface

• Vtm: Text-Based Desktop Environment

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  Posted: 2025-03-07 17:12:30

  Verbose tl;dr

  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.

  The GitHub repository, directvt/vtm, introduces Vtm, a novel text-based desktop environment meticulously crafted for Linux systems. It distinguishes itself from traditional terminal multiplexers and window managers by offering a fully integrated desktop experience within the confines of a terminal emulator. This means users can interact with a comprehensive suite of applications and manage their workflow entirely through textual interfaces, without relying on graphical elements.

  Vtm leverages the capabilities of libtickit, a composable terminal UI library, to construct its interface elements. This allows for a dynamic and responsive user experience, efficiently handling keyboard input and screen updates. The core design philosophy emphasizes modularity, enabling users to customize and extend Vtm's functionality through plugins written in Lua. This extensibility empowers users to tailor Vtm to their specific needs and preferences, creating a highly personalized computing environment.

  The desktop environment encompasses a variety of built-in applications and features designed to replicate common graphical desktop functionalities. These include a file manager for navigating and manipulating files, a terminal emulator for executing commands and running shell scripts, and a text editor for composing and editing documents. Additionally, Vtm offers a system monitor to track resource usage, a network manager for configuring network connections, and a notification system for displaying alerts and messages.

  Furthermore, Vtm incorporates a tiling window management system, allowing users to arrange and organize multiple application windows efficiently within the terminal window. This facilitates multitasking and allows for a structured workflow within the textual interface. The project actively encourages contributions and welcomes developers to participate in enhancing its features and expanding its capabilities. The stated goal is to provide a powerful yet lightweight alternative to traditional graphical desktop environments, catering to users who prefer or require a text-based interface. The overall objective is to create a complete and versatile desktop experience entirely within the terminal, offering a productive and customizable environment for a range of tasks.

  • vtm
  • Text-based
  • Desktop Environment
  • tui
  • terminal user interface
  • cli
  • Command-Line Interface
  • Linux
  • unix
  • C
  • ncurses
  • Framework
  • window manager
  • Desktop
  • Minimalist
  • keyboard driven
  • mouse support

  Summary of Comments ( 39 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43291946

  Verbose tl;dr

  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.

  The Hacker News post "Vtm: Text-Based Desktop Environment" spawned a moderately active discussion with several interesting points raised in the comments section.

  Several users discussed the practical applications of such a desktop environment. One user highlighted its potential usefulness for remote server administration, especially over low-bandwidth connections or when graphical interfaces are unavailable. They emphasized the benefit of having a familiar desktop-like environment within a terminal, allowing for tasks like window management and application switching. Another user echoed this sentiment, suggesting its suitability for embedded systems or situations requiring a minimal footprint.

  The discussion also touched upon the historical context of text-based user interfaces (TUIs), with some users drawing parallels to older systems and highlighting the cyclical nature of technology trends. One commenter fondly reminisced about using similar environments in the past, while another discussed the enduring appeal of TUIs for their efficiency and low resource consumption. This sparked a mini-thread discussing the advantages and disadvantages of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) versus TUIs, with users weighing in on factors like ease of use, accessibility, and resource usage.

  Some comments focused on the technical aspects of vtm. One user inquired about the underlying technology and libraries used, demonstrating curiosity about its implementation. Another user expressed interest in the project's custom window manager, wondering about its capabilities and features compared to traditional window managers. There was also a brief exchange regarding the programming language used for the project (C) and its suitability for such a task.

  A few users expressed skepticism about the project's practicality in modern computing, questioning its relevance in a world dominated by GUIs. However, these comments were countered by others who argued for the niche use cases mentioned earlier, emphasizing the value of having alternatives to resource-intensive graphical environments.

  Finally, some users simply expressed appreciation for the project, praising its ingenuity and the developer's effort in creating a functional text-based desktop environment. One commenter lauded the project as "cool," highlighting the inherent appeal of such a unique approach to interface design.

• Show HN: Bagels – TUI expense tracker

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  Posted: 2025-01-26 08:57:51

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  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.

  A new open-source project named "Bagels" has been introduced as a terminal user interface (TUI) based application for tracking personal expenses. Developed with Python and leveraging the textual user interface library "Textual," Bagels offers a streamlined and efficient method for managing finances directly within the terminal. This approach eliminates the need for a separate graphical application or web interface, appealing to users comfortable working within a command-line environment. The project aims to provide a simple yet powerful tool for recording and categorizing expenses, allowing users to maintain a clear overview of their spending habits. Bagels employs a straightforward interface, presumably navigable with keyboard shortcuts and commands, enabling users to input transactions, categorize them, and potentially generate reports or summaries of their financial data. Being an open-source initiative, the codebase is publicly available on GitHub, encouraging community contributions, bug reports, and feature requests, fostering collaborative development and improvement of the software. While the precise feature set isn't fully detailed, the core functionality revolves around expense input and categorization, hinting at potential for expansion with features like budgeting, reporting, and possibly integration with other financial tools. The emphasis on a TUI suggests a focus on efficiency and minimal system resource usage, making it a potentially attractive option for users seeking a lightweight and fast expense tracking solution.

  • expense tracker
  • tui
  • terminal user interface
  • financial management
  • personal finance
  • cli
  • Command Line Interface
  • Python
  • Open Source
  • bagels
  • HN
  • Hacker News
  • Software

  Summary of Comments ( 60 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42828833

  Verbose tl;dr

  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.

  The Hacker News post titled "Show HN: Bagels – TUI expense tracker" linking to the GitHub repository for Bagels, a terminal-based expense tracker, has generated a modest number of comments, primarily focused on its functionality and potential alternatives.

  Several commenters express appreciation for the simplicity and clean interface of Bagels. One user highlights the appeal of text-based interfaces for their speed and efficiency, contrasting them favorably with browser-based or graphical applications. Another commenter echoes this sentiment, praising the speed and ease of use, particularly for those comfortable with command-line tools.

  A significant portion of the discussion revolves around comparisons with other expense tracking tools. Ledger, a command-line accounting tool, is mentioned multiple times, with users discussing its power and flexibility. One commenter suggests integrating Bagels with Ledger, potentially leveraging Bagels for quick data entry and Ledger for more comprehensive reporting and analysis. Another user mentions Beancount, another text-based accounting system, as a potential alternative.

  The conversation also touches on the desired features and potential improvements for Bagels. One commenter requests the ability to categorize expenses, a common feature in many expense trackers. Another user suggests the possibility of using a more structured data format, potentially enabling easier data import and export. The discussion also includes brief mentions of other tools like fzf (a command-line fuzzy finder) and the potential benefits of cloud synchronization for data backup and accessibility across devices.

  While generally positive, some comments express reservations or suggest alternative approaches. One user questions the long-term viability of using a TUI for expense tracking, suggesting that graphical interfaces might be more suitable for complex financial management. Another commenter points out the existing abundance of expense tracking applications, implicitly questioning the need for another tool.

  Overall, the comments reflect a mix of interest and skepticism towards Bagels. While many appreciate its minimalist approach and speed, others question its long-term practicality and compare it to existing solutions. The discussion highlights the ongoing debate between the simplicity of text-based interfaces and the richness of graphical applications, particularly in the context of financial management.