[SOLVED] How to create text-based GUIs, such as some of the Linux Installations?

[Gizmo]

Hi

I'd like to make a program that runs in terminal mode but which utilises text-based GUI, like the various Linux based "Alternate CD" installations, such as https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/MinimalCD. As those of you who have used it will know, it presents various options in the forms of Y\N responses by the user, the tab key to switch between listed options and OK to accept. And each running process is fedback by way of a text based status bar.

Does anyone know if Lazarus can be used to create such an interface? I realise you can create standard Windows\GTK GUIs, or command line tools, but this falls somewhat in the middle.

If not, does anyone know how such systems are created?

Ta

Ted

[marcov]

Best is to have a look at the textmode IDE of Free Pascal (the binary "fp" installable by most Linux distros). That UI is available in library form in FPC, and is called "Free Vision".

It is more something like RHIDE, and that is no coincidence, they have similar roots.

[Gizmo]

Thanks Marcov...I will take a look

[Gizmo]

Marcov and others

OK, this has rather stumped me. And it seems I am not alone (http://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php?topic=18998.0)

My Linux system has fp-units-fv installed. I have Lazarus and FPC of course.

But where do you go from here? How do you actually 'create' a text based interface with Lazarus with Free Vision? I have read the wiki entry (http://wiki.freepascal.org/Free_Vision) and this http://wiki.freepascal.org/Textmode_IDE_development but neither seem to show how one actually goes about creating a new text based program with Lazarus. 

I have also tried creating a new project in Lazarus but there is no mention of a "Free Vision Project"? Do you have to create another kind of project and then call Free Vision from there?

[karaba]

Do you have to create another kind of project and then call Free Vision from there?

yes Free vision is a console library so you need a console application or a program if memory serves me correct.