What is libvaxis?

Libvaxis is a toolkit for building TUI applications, that is, programs with text-based interfaces that run in your terminal, like command-line dashboards or file managers. It is written in the Zig programming language and helps developers create rich, interactive terminal apps that feel modern rather than being limited to plain text. Most terminal libraries rely on a database called "terminfo" to figure out what a terminal can do. This project takes a different approach: it asks the terminal directly what features it supports. This means it can take advantage of modern terminal capabilities like full RGB colors, clickable hyperlinks, image rendering, fancy underlines, mouse support, and even system clipboard integration without relying on a potentially outdated database. The library offers two levels of use. A high-level framework called vxfw handles common application needs for you, things like the event loop, focus management, and mouse handling. It works in a style similar to Flutter, where you build custom interface components and place them on screen. A low-level API is also available for developers who want full manual control over every cell on the screen and want to manage their own application loop. Developers building interactive tools for the command line would use this. For example, if someone wanted to build a terminal-based email client, a git interface, or a system monitor with buttons, borders, and responsive layouts, this library provides the building blocks. It runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, and other Unix-like systems. A notable design choice is the focus on modern terminal features. Rather than building for the lowest common denominator, it detects and uses advanced capabilities when available. This tradeoff means applications built with it will shine in modern terminals but may have limited functionality in very basic ones. The project's own documentation and widget examples are still in early development.