Programming with Curses

curses is a UNIX library of functions for controlling a terminal's display screen from a C program. It can be used to provide a screen driver for a program (such as a visual editor) or to improve a program's user interface.

This handbook will help you make use of the curses library in your C programs. We have presented ample material on curses and its implementation in UNIX so that you understand the whole, as well as its parts.

Note: This handbook covers Ken Arnold's original Berkeley implementation of curses, not the System V version.

• Preface
• A Library for Screen Manipulation
• Scope of this Handbook
• Acknowledgement

1. Understanding Windows
• Introduction
• Windows, Screens and Images
• The Standard Screen — stdscr
• The Current Screen — curscr
• Multiple Windows
• The WINDOW Structure
2. Terminal Independence
• Introduction
• What is Terminal Independence?
• Termcap
• Terminfo
• For More Information
• Examining the Header File
• Global Variables and Defines
• Pseudo-functions
3. The Curses Library
• Introduction
• Using the Curses Library
• The Spreadsheet Program
• The Curses Functions
• Initialize and Terminate Curses
• Cursor Location Utilities
• Adding Characters to the Screen Image
• Standout Mode
• Getting Characters from the Terminal
• Input Modes
• Erasing and Clearing
• Creating and Removing Multiple Windows
• Window-Specific Functions
• Manipulating Multiple Windows
• Miscellaneous Functions
• Low-level Termcap Routines
• Terminal Manipulation

• Sample Program
• Quick Reference
• Window-Specific Functions
• Move and Act Functions

This is so old that it is about termcap curses (or Berkeley curses). Also, this is so old that it has only a brown cover (no animals or anything). One of my first O'Reilly books. I'll miss it with sadness, but no-one else will, I promise!