Question 1

cli-cursor vs ansi-escapes for hiding cursor in Node.js?

Accepted Answer

cli-cursor offers a higher-level API focused solely on cursor visibility with automatic restoration, making it simpler for basic hide/show needs. ansi-escapes provides low-level ANSI escape sequences for various terminal controls, including cursor, but requires manual handling and no built-in restoration.

Question 2

How to hide and show cursor dynamically in a CLI app using cli-cursor?

Accepted Answer

Import cli-cursor and call .hide() when you want to hide the cursor, such as during animations, and .show() to restore it. Use .toggle() with a boolean parameter to conditionally switch visibility based on app state, like during user input prompts.

Question 3

Does cli-cursor work on all operating systems like Windows and macOS?

Accepted Answer

Yes, cli-cursor uses ANSI escape sequences that are supported in modern terminals across Windows (e.g., via Windows Terminal or WSL), macOS, and Linux. However, it may not work in legacy environments or non-ANSI terminals without additional configuration.

Question 4

Can I use cli-cursor with async/await in Node.js without issues?

Accepted Answer

Yes, cli-cursor methods are synchronous and non-blocking, so they can be safely used in async functions. Just ensure to call .show() or .hide() at appropriate points in your async flow to avoid cursor state mismatches during concurrent operations.

Question 5

How does cli-cursor handle process signals like SIGINT for cleanup?

Accepted Answer

cli-cursor integrates with restore-cursor to listen for process exit events, including signals like SIGINT, and automatically restores the cursor. This prevents the cursor from remaining hidden if the app is interrupted, but you might need manual calls in complex signal-handling scenarios.

Question 6

Is cli-cursor suitable for building terminal games or real-time UIs?

Accepted Answer

It's good for basic cursor visibility in games or UIs, but for advanced features like cursor movement or screen clearing, you'll need additional libraries. Pair it with something like blessed or ink for a full terminal UI framework.

cli-cursor

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