Rediscovering the Power and Creativity of Terminal-Based Tools

In an era dominated by graphical user interfaces, the command-line interface (CLI) remains a vibrant and essential platform for developers, who continue to build terminal-based tools for both fun and serious professional use. The appeal lies in the terminal's efficiency, flexibility, and the unique challenges it presents.

The All-CLI Workflow

For many, the CLI is not just a tool but a complete work environment. One company runs its entire customer support operation on a suite of over 200 custom-built internal CLI tools. This approach is celebrated for its efficiency and speed, offering a distraction-free and powerful way to manage complex workflows. This dedication to the terminal underscores its viability for mission-critical business applications, not just developer-centric tasks.

Simple Tricks for Big Usability Gains

Enhancing the user experience of a terminal tool doesn't require complex TUI (Text-based User Interface) libraries. A simple but highly effective technique is the strategic use of color. For instance, printing important messages with color-coded text can dramatically improve readability and usability.

A common example is wrapping warning messages in a function that renders them in red:

python print(red("Warning: Critical system failure."))

This small change helps users quickly identify key information in a stream of text output, proving that sometimes the most impactful improvements are also the simplest.

Pushing Creative Boundaries

Beyond practical utilities, developers are experimenting with the terminal's artistic and technical limits. One such project is a single-binary image viewer written in C that renders images directly in the terminal using only ANSI color blocks. This tool, with no dependencies beyond SDL2, demonstrates that surprisingly high-quality graphics are possible even without modern graphics protocols. It works across various platforms, including Linux, Windows, and even Termux on Android.

When developing such graphical tools, a key consideration is the underlying technology. While powerful APIs like the VTE (Virtual Terminal Emulator) provide a robust foundation for terminal graphics, opting for raw ANSI escape codes ensures maximum compatibility. This allows the tool to function correctly on even the most basic or legacy terminals, prioritizing portability over advanced features.