Python3 and curses: Multi-window test

multi-pane.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

from threading import Thread
import curses, time, subprocess, io

commands = {'output': ""}

def input_window(window, r, c, prompt_string):
    window.clear()
    window.addstr(r, c, prompt_string)
    try:
        # Set the cursor 1 character from the top and 2 from the left of the first pane as we have a "> " at the beginning
        input = window.getstr(r + 1, c + 2)
        window.refresh()
    except KeyboardInterrupt:
        curses_cleanup()
        exit()

    return input

def output_window(window):
    while True:
        # Clear the current pane from any previous text
        window.clear()
        # Scroll up one line if we hit the bottom of the screen (tail like behaviour)
        window.scrollok(True)
        # use hardware line editing facilities
        window.idlok(True)

        try:
            # The output is at the beginnging of the second pane - the dict is used to report the output without using global vars
            window.addstr(0, 0, "Output:\n" + commands['output'])
        except Exception as e:
            commands['output'] = str(e)
        window.refresh()
        time.sleep(0.1)

def curses_cleanup():
    curses.nocbreak()
    curses.echo(True)
    curses.endwin()


def main(stdscr):
    # Set echo to work in this window (wrapper disable it by default)
    curses.echo(True)
    # Set to use the default colors (it would be grey-ish otherwise)
    curses.use_default_colors()
    # Disable the cursor blinking
    curses.curs_set(0)

    y = curses.LINES
    x = curses.COLS

    # The 2 panes' height are half of the screen, the second one is set at the middle of the screen
    command_window = curses.newwin(int(y/3), x - 1, 0, 0)
    display_window = curses.newwin(int(y/2), x - 1, int(y/3), 0)

    # thread to refresh display_window
    cursed_screen = Thread( target=output_window, args=(display_window,), name='cursed')
    cursed_screen.daemon = True
    cursed_screen.start()

    # main thread, waiting for user's command.
    while True:
        # The command starts at the top/left corner of the screen
        command = input_window(command_window, 0, 0, 'Enter your command :\n> ')

        if command == "quit":
            curses_cleanup()
            exit()
        else:
            try:
                commands['output'] = subprocess.check_output(command.split()).decode("utf-8")
            except Exception as e:
                commands['output'] = str(e)

curses.wrapper(main)