Uncovering the Best libmabuff Alternatives for C++ TUI Development

Libmabuff is a C++ library designed for the simple and fast creation of Text-based User Interfaces (TUIs). It leverages a customized version of termbox as its backend, focusing on a unique "Zones" concept for editable and formatted content. While libmabuff offers a solid foundation for basic TUI projects, especially with its MIT license and existing output control, its input handling is still under development. For developers seeking more robust, feature-rich, or specialized TUI solutions, exploring a libmabuff alternative is a logical next step.

Top libmabuff Alternatives

Whether you're looking for broader platform support, more mature input handling, or a wider array of widgets, these alternatives offer compelling options for your C++ TUI development needs.

FINAL CUT

FINAL CUT is a comprehensive C++ class library and widget toolkit for creating text-based user interfaces with full mouse support. It's a robust libmabuff alternative, offering an API for developing text-based UIs and supporting a wide range of free and open-source platforms including Mac, Linux, BSD, Cygwin, and Solaris, making it highly versatile for various development environments.

termbox

Termbox, which libmabuff itself uses as a backend, is a simple and clean library designed for creating terminal-based pseudo-GUIs. As a direct libmabuff alternative or complementary tool, it focuses on the core aspects of terminal manipulation, providing a lean API for text-based user interfaces and functioning as a solid ncurses alternative primarily for Linux, with free and open-source availability.

newt

Newt is a programming library for color text mode, widget-based user interfaces. It offers a more complete set of UI components compared to libmabuff's current state, including stacked windows, entry widgets, checkboxes, and radio buttons. Newt is a free and open-source libmabuff alternative primarily for Linux, excelling in creating rich text-based user interfaces.

ConsoleGUI

ConsoleGUI is a simple .NET framework for creating console-based GUI applications. While not a direct C++ libmabuff alternative, it's an excellent choice for developers in the .NET ecosystem who need text-based user interface capabilities. It's free and open-source, providing essential layout management utilities and basic controls for Windows platforms.

Gui.cs

Gui.cs is a simple UI toolkit for .NET, .NET Core, and Mono, offering a viable libmabuff alternative for those working outside of C++. It supports both Windows and Linux/Unix, providing various controls for building text user interfaces. Being free and open-source, it's a flexible option for cross-platform TUI development in the .NET environment.

Turbo Vision

Turbo Vision is a complete C++ Text User Interface (TUI) featuring windows, dialogs (buttons, check and radio boxes, input boxes, etc.), mouse support, and menus. As a classic and highly capable libmabuff alternative, it provides a comprehensive library for creating TUIs and is free and open-source, available on platforms like Linux, Cygwin, FreeDOS, Solaris, and FreeBSD, and even MS-DOS, showcasing its enduring utility.

Ultimately, the best libmabuff alternative for your project will depend on your specific needs, preferred programming language, desired features, and target platforms. Explore these options to find the perfect fit for your next text-based user interface application.