Demo "chat" app which shows how to use Go and carraige returns to show live messages alongside an editable chat input line

chat.go

package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"math/rand"
	"time"

	"github.com/eiannone/keyboard"
)

const clearLine = "\033[2K\r"

func main() {
	msgs := make(chan string)
	// fake chatters
	go func() {
		t := time.NewTicker(1 * time.Second)
		for range t.C {
			msgs <- fmt.Sprintf("%08d", rand.Intn(100000000))
		}
	}()

	newInput := make(chan struct{})
	done := make(chan struct{})
	var buf string
	// key listener
	go func() {
		for {
			char, key, err := keyboard.GetSingleKey()
			if err != nil {
				panic(err)
			}
			// handle quitting the app with Ctrl-C
			if key == keyboard.KeyCtrlC {
				done <- struct{}{}
				break
			}

			if key == keyboard.KeyBackspace || key == keyboard.KeyBackspace2 {
				if len(buf) > 0 {
					buf = buf[:len(buf)-1]
				}
			} else if key == keyboard.KeyEnter { // enter sends a message
				msgs <- buf
				buf = ""
			} else if char != 0 {
				buf += string(char)
			}
			newInput <- struct{}{}
		}
	}()

	go func() {
		for {
			select {
			case msg := <-msgs:
				fmt.Print(clearLine)
				fmt.Println(msg)
				fmt.Print(buf)
			case <-newInput:
				fmt.Print(clearLine)
				fmt.Print(buf)
			}
		}
	}()

	// wait for Ctrl-C
	<-done
}