python curses library - interactive dictionary search

live_dict.py

import sys
import curses

def filter_words(words, start):
    return list(filter(lambda s: s.startswith(start), words))

if __name__ == "__main__":
    words = []
    with open("words.txt", "r") as f:
        words = [l.strip() for l in f.readlines()]
    
    stdscr = curses.initscr()
    curses.noecho()

    k = 0
    l = []
    while (k != 27):
        stdscr.addstr(0, 0, f"?: {''.join(l)}")
        stdscr.clrtoeol()
        stdscr.refresh()
        k = stdscr.getch()
        if k != 0:
            if k == curses.KEY_BACKSPACE or k == 127:
                l = l[:-1]
            else:
                l.append(chr(k))
        start = ''.join(l)
        for i, match in enumerate(filter_words(words, start)[0:10]):
            stdscr.addstr(1 + i, 0, match)
            stdscr.clrtoeol()
        stdscr.clrtobot()
        stdscr.refresh()

    curses.endwin()
    sys.exit(0)