Question 1

How do I make clickable links in Node.js CLI apps?

Accepted Answer

Use terminal-link by installing it via npm and calling terminalLink(text, url) in your code. It generates ANSI escape codes for supported terminals and falls back to plain text otherwise, simplifying the process compared to manual implementation.

Question 2

terminal-link vs using ANSI codes manually for hyperlinks?

Accepted Answer

Terminal-link abstracts away the complexity of ANSI escape codes and terminal detection, providing automatic fallbacks and compatibility checks. Manually implementing this requires more code and maintenance, but terminal-link adds a dependency that might be unnecessary for very simple use cases.

Question 3

Does terminal-link work on Windows Command Prompt or PowerShell?

Accepted Answer

It works on terminals that support hyperlinks, but compatibility varies. Modern terminals like Windows Terminal may work, while older ones like Command Prompt often don't. Check the README's linked gist for specifics, or use terminalLink.isSupported to test at runtime.

Question 4

How can I customize the fallback text in terminal-link?

Accepted Answer

Use the options parameter with a fallback function, e.g., terminalLink(text, url, { fallback: (text, url) => `${text} (${url})` }). This allows you to define custom formatting for unsupported terminals, as documented in the API section.

Question 5

Is terminal-link compatible with all terminal emulators?

Accepted Answer

No, compatibility depends on terminal support for hyperlinks. Terminal-link references a community-maintained list, so some emulators might not be included. Use terminalLink.isSupported to detect support, but be aware of potential gaps in the list.

Question 6

How to integrate terminal-link with other CLI libraries like chalk?

Accepted Answer

Terminal-link can be combined with chalk for styling by applying chalk styles to the text before or after link creation. For example, use chalk.bold(text) as the input to terminalLink, ensuring the styling works with the generated link or fallback.

terminal-link

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