AWT keyboard barely working

[nikiroo-utils.git] / README.md

Jexer - Java Text User Interface library
========================================

This library is currently in design, but when finished it is intended
to implement a text-based windowing system loosely reminiscient of
Borland's [Turbo Vision](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbo_Vision)
library.  For those wishing to use the actual C++ Turbo Vision
library, see [Sergio Sigala's updated
version](http://tvision.sourceforge.net/) that runs on many more
platforms.

Two backends are available:

* A command-line ECMA-48 / ANSI X3.64 type terminal (tested on Linux +
  xterm) via System.in and System.out.  Input/output is handled
  through terminal escape sequences generated by the library itself:
  ncurses is not required or linked to.  xterm mouse tracking using
  UTF8 coordinates is supported.  This is the default backend.

* Java Swing/AWT UI.  This backend can be selected by setting
  jexer.AWT=true.

A demo application showing the existing UI controls is available via
'java -jar jexer.jar' or 'java -Djexer.AWT=true -jar jexer.jar' .



License
-------

This library is licensed LGPL ("GNU Lesser General Public License")
version 3 or greater.  See the file LICENSE for the full license text,
which includes both the GPL v3 and the LGPL supplemental terms.


Usage
-----

The library is currently under initial development, usage patterns are
still being worked on.  Generally the goal will be to build
applications somewhat as follows:

```Java
import jexer.*;

public class MyApplication extends TApplication {

    public MyApplication() {
        super();

        // Create an editor window that has support for
        // copy/paste, search text, arrow keys, horizontal
        // and vertical scrollbar, etc.
        addEditor();

        // Create standard menus for File and Window
        addFileMenu();
        addWindowMenu();
    }

    public static void main(String [] args) {
        MyApplication app = new MyApplication();
        app.run();
    }
}
```


Roadmap
-------

Many tasks remain before calling this version 1.0:

0.0.1:

- AWTBackend

0.0.2:

- ECMA48Backend running on socket
- TTreeView
- TDirectoryList
- TFileOpen

0.0.3:

- TEditor
- TTerminal

0.0.4:

- Bugs
  - Bare ESC isn't being returned immediately
  - TTimer is jittery with I/O
  - TSubMenu keyboard mnemonic not working
  - kbDel assertion failure in TMenu (MID_CLEAR)
  - TDirectoryList cannot be navigated only with keyboard
  - TTreeView cannot be navigated only with keyboard
  - RangeViolation after dragging scrollbar up/down
- TEditor
  - Word wrap
  - Forward/backward word
  - Search
  - Replace
  - Cut/Copy/Paste

0.1.0:

- TWindow
  - "Smart placement" for new windows
- ECMATerminal
  - Mouse 1006 mode parsing

Wishlist features (2.0):

- TTerminal
  - Handle resize events (pass to child process)
  - xterm mouse handling
- Screen
  - Allow complex characters in putCharXY() and detect them in putStrXY().
- TComboBox
- TListBox
- TSpinner
- TCalendar widget
- TColorPicker widget
- Drag and drop
  - TEditor
  - TField
  - TText
  - TTerminal
  - TComboBox