Python: CUI application with curses

Import curses.

import curses

• Initialize curses with curses.initscr(), and get screen handler object.
• Disable echo by keyboard input with curses.noecho().

stdscr = curses.initscr()
curses.noecho()

• Clear screen with stdscr.clear().
• Add string to screen with stdscr.addscr(). You need to call stdscr.addscr() multiple time for drawing multiple strings before calling stdscr.clear().
• Draw screen with stdscr.clear().

stdscr.clear()
stdscr.addstr(y, x, string)
stdscr.refresh()
time.sleep(1)

Finalization must be done even if exception happens. If finalization is not done, terminal console will be collapsed. You need to run "stty sane" for fixing it.

• Enable echo by keyboard input with curses.echo().
• Finalize curses with curses.endwin().

curses.echo()
curses.endwin()

Sample code draws string on every seconds until after 10 seconds. This can be interrupted by Ctrl + C.

#!/usr/bin/env python

import curses
import time

if __name__ == "__main__":
    try:
        stdscr = curses.initscr()
        curses.noecho()

        for t in range(0, 10):
            stdscr.clear()
            stdscr.addstr(
                0, 0, 'Program will be terminated after %s seconds' % (10 - t))
            stdscr.refresh()
            time.sleep(1)
    except:
        # Exception by Ctrl + C
        pass
    finally:
        curses.echo()
        curses.endwin()