Question 1

How to create a spinner with log-update in Node.js?

Accepted Answer

Use setInterval to cycle through frames and call logUpdate with the new text, as shown in the usage example. This allows smooth animations by overwriting previous output each interval.

Question 2

log-update vs ora: which is better for spinners?

Accepted Answer

log-update is a low-level library for any dynamic output, while ora is a higher-level tool specifically for spinners with features like color and text. Use log-update for custom animations, ora for quick, pre-built spinners.

Question 3

Can log-update handle multi-line output updates?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can pass multi-line strings to logUpdate, and it will overwrite the previous output. However, managing complex multi-line layouts may require additional logic since it's designed for simple in-place updates.

Question 4

How to keep output from disappearing with log-update?

Accepted Answer

Use the persist() method to write text that remains in the scrollback history, similar to console.log(). This is useful for final results or messages that shouldn't be overwritten.

Question 5

Does log-update work in Docker containers or CI environments?

Accepted Answer

It works, but in non-TTY environments, you may need to configure defaultWidth and defaultHeight options since terminal size might not be available, ensuring output renders correctly.

Question 6

How to add colors to log-update output?

Accepted Answer

Integrate with coloring libraries like chalk or yoctocolors. Install the library, format your text with it, and then pass the colored string to logUpdate for styled updates.

Question 7

What are good alternatives to log-update for terminal updates?

Accepted Answer

For spinners, consider ora; for full terminal UIs, look at blessed or ink. log-update is best for minimal, efficient in-place updates without extra bloat.

log-update

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