Helper for using curses from python

curses-demo.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
# This module provides a 'with' for using curses in Python.
# from: http://www.finalcog.com/python-with-curses-with_curses
 
from __future__ import with_statement
import curses
 
 
class WithCurses(object):
    """
    WithCurses is a simple convenience for using Python's curses
    module.
    """
 
    def __enter__(self):
        self.stdscr = curses.initscr()
        curses.noecho()
        curses.cbreak()
        self.stdscr.keypad(1)
        curses.start_color()
 
        curses.init_pair(1, curses.COLOR_BLUE, curses.COLOR_BLACK)
        curses.init_pair(2, curses.COLOR_RED, curses.COLOR_BLACK)
        curses.init_pair(3, curses.COLOR_GREEN, curses.COLOR_BLACK)
        curses.init_pair(4, curses.COLOR_MAGENTA, curses.COLOR_BLACK)
        curses.init_pair(5, curses.COLOR_CYAN, curses.COLOR_BLACK)
        curses.init_pair(6, curses.COLOR_YELLOW, curses.COLOR_BLACK)
        curses.init_pair(7, curses.COLOR_WHITE, curses.COLOR_BLACK)
 
        self.DIM_BLUE = curses.color_pair(1)
        self.DIM_RED = curses.color_pair(2)
        self.DIM_GREEN = curses.color_pair(3)
        self.DIM_MAGENTA = curses.color_pair(4)
        self.DIM_CYAN = curses.color_pair(5)
        self.DIM_YELLOW = curses.color_pair(6)
        self.DIM_WHITE = curses.color_pair(7)
 
        self.BLUE = curses.color_pair(1) | curses.A_BOLD
        self.RED = curses.color_pair(2) | curses.A_BOLD
        self.GREEN = curses.color_pair(3) | curses.A_BOLD
        self.MAGENTA = curses.color_pair(4) | curses.A_BOLD
        self.CYAN = curses.color_pair(5) | curses.A_BOLD
        self.YELLOW = curses.color_pair(6) | curses.A_BOLD
        self.WHITE = curses.color_pair(7) | curses.A_BOLD
 
        # Whatever the __enter__() method returns is the instance
        # which is assigned to the 'as' variable in the 'with' statement.
        # This does not necessarily need to be an instance of this class.
        return self
 
    # The __exit__() method can perform exception handling, but
    # here we just let any exception propagate upwards, after
    # making the console sane.
    def __exit__(self, type, value, traceback):
        curses.nocbreak()
        self.stdscr.keypad(0)
        curses.echo()
        curses.endwin()
 
 
# This is executed if the script is executed, but not if it is imported.
if __name__ == '__main__':
    import time
 
    # Print hello world on the screen, as a demo.
    with WithCurses() as wc:
        wc.stdscr.addstr(0, 0, "hello", wc.GREEN)
        wc.stdscr.refresh()
        time.sleep(1)
        wc.stdscr.addstr(0, 6, "world", wc.RED)
        wc.stdscr.refresh()
        time.sleep(1)