opentui

OpenTUI Platform Skill

Consolidated skill for building terminal user interfaces with OpenTUI. Use decision trees below to find the right framework and components, then load detailed references.

This skill is for terminal OpenTUI surfaces. Do not load it for Electrobun desktop-web-only window chrome, CSS, or browser renderer fixes unless the task also changes terminal OpenTUI behavior.

Critical Rules

Follow these rules in all OpenTUI code:

1. Use create-tui for new projects. See framework REFERENCE.md quick starts.
2. create-tui options must come before arguments. bunx create-tui -t react my-app works, bunx create-tui my-app -t react does NOT.
3. Never call process.exit() directly. Use renderer.destroy() (see core/gotchas.md).
4. Text styling requires nested tags in React/Solid. Use modifier elements, not props (see components/text-display.md).
5. Testing cleanup is mandatory. If you use tmux or start any background process while testing, kill it before you finish the task (see testing/REFERENCE.md).

How to Use This Skill

Reference File Structure

Framework references follow a 5-file pattern. Cross-cutting concepts are single-file guides.

Each framework in ./references/<framework>/ contains:

Cross-cutting concepts in ./references/<concept>/ have REFERENCE.md as the entry point.

Reading Order

1. Start with REFERENCE.md for your chosen framework
2. Then read additional files relevant to your task:
   • Building components -> api.md + components/<category>.md
   • Setting up project -> configuration.md
   • Layout/positioning -> layout/REFERENCE.md
   • Keyboard/input handling -> keyboard/REFERENCE.md
   • Animations -> animation/REFERENCE.md
   • Troubleshooting -> gotchas.md + testing/REFERENCE.md

Example Paths

./references/react/REFERENCE.md           # Start here for React
./references/react/api.md              # React components and hooks
./references/solid/configuration.md    # Solid project setup
./references/components/inputs.md      # Input, Textarea, Select docs
./references/core/gotchas.md           # Core debugging tips

Runtime Notes

OpenTUI runs on Bun and uses Zig for native builds. Read ./references/core/gotchas.md for runtime requirements and build guidance.

Quick Decision Trees

"Which framework should I use?"

Which framework?
├─ I want full control, maximum performance, no framework overhead
│  └─ core/ (imperative API)
├─ I know React, want familiar component patterns
│  └─ react/ (React reconciler)
├─ I want fine-grained reactivity, optimal re-renders
│  └─ solid/ (Solid reconciler)
└─ I'm building a library/framework on top of OpenTUI
   └─ core/ (imperative API)

"I need to display content"

Display content?
├─ Plain or styled text -> components/text-display.md
├─ Container with borders/background -> components/containers.md
├─ Scrollable content area -> components/containers.md (scrollbox)
├─ ASCII art banner/title -> components/text-display.md (ascii-font)
├─ Code with syntax highlighting -> components/code-diff.md
├─ Diff viewer (unified/split) -> components/code-diff.md
├─ Line numbers with diagnostics -> components/code-diff.md
└─ Markdown content (streaming) -> components/code-diff.md (markdown)

"I need user input"

User input?
├─ Single-line text field -> components/inputs.md (input)
├─ Multi-line text editor -> components/inputs.md (textarea)
├─ Select from a list (vertical) -> components/inputs.md (select)
├─ Tab-based selection (horizontal) -> components/inputs.md (tab-select)
└─ Custom keyboard shortcuts -> keyboard/REFERENCE.md

"I need layout/positioning"

Layout?
├─ Flexbox-style layouts (row, column, wrap) -> layout/REFERENCE.md
├─ Absolute positioning -> layout/patterns.md
├─ Responsive to terminal size -> layout/patterns.md
├─ Centering content -> layout/patterns.md
└─ Complex nested layouts -> layout/patterns.md

"I need animations"

Animations?
├─ Timeline-based animations -> animation/REFERENCE.md
├─ Easing functions -> animation/REFERENCE.md
├─ Property transitions -> animation/REFERENCE.md
└─ Looping animations -> animation/REFERENCE.md

"I need to handle input"

Input handling?
├─ Keyboard events (keypress, release) -> keyboard/REFERENCE.md
├─ Focus management -> keyboard/REFERENCE.md
├─ Paste events -> keyboard/REFERENCE.md
├─ Mouse events -> components/containers.md
└─ Text selection -> components/text-display.md

"I need to test my TUI"

Testing?
├─ Snapshot testing -> testing/REFERENCE.md
├─ Interaction testing -> testing/REFERENCE.md
├─ Test renderer setup -> testing/REFERENCE.md
└─ Debugging tests -> testing/REFERENCE.md

"I need to debug/troubleshoot"

Troubleshooting?
├─ Runtime errors, crashes -> <framework>/gotchas.md
├─ Layout issues -> layout/REFERENCE.md + layout/patterns.md
├─ Input/focus issues -> keyboard/REFERENCE.md
└─ Repro + regression tests -> testing/REFERENCE.md

Troubleshooting Index

• Terminal cleanup, crashes -> core/gotchas.md
• Text styling not applying -> components/text-display.md
• Input focus/shortcuts -> keyboard/REFERENCE.md
• Layout misalignment -> layout/REFERENCE.md
• Flaky snapshots -> testing/REFERENCE.md

For component naming differences and text modifiers, see components/REFERENCE.md.

Product Index

Frameworks

Cross-Cutting Concepts

Component Categories

Resources

Repository: https://github.com/anomalyco/opentui Core Docs: https://github.com/anomalyco/opentui/tree/main/packages/core/docs Examples: https://github.com/anomalyco/opentui/tree/main/packages/core/src/examples Awesome List: https://github.com/msmps/awesome-opentui