pyinklib 1.1.11

Build terminal UIs with Python using React-like components and flexbox layout. A 1:1 port of Ink.

PyInk

Build terminal UIs with Python using React-like components and flexbox layout.

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A 1:1 Python port of Ink — the amazing React-based CLI framework by Vadim Demedes.

PyInk brings Ink's component model, hooks system, and flexbox layout engine to Python. Same architecture, same patterns, same terminal magic.

Install

pip install pyinklib

Or with uv:

uv add pyinklib

Usage

from pyink import component, render, Box, Text
from pyink.hooks import use_state, use_input, use_app

@component
def counter():
    count, set_count = use_state(0)
    app = use_app()

    def handle_input(input_str, key):
        if key.up_arrow:
            set_count(lambda c: c + 1)
        elif key.down_arrow:
            set_count(lambda c: max(0, c - 1))
        elif input_str == "q":
            app.exit()

    use_input(handle_input)

    return Box(
        Text(f"Counter: {count}", color="cyan", bold=True),
        Box(
            Text("Up/Down to change, q to quit", dim_color=True),
            margin_top=1,
        ),
        flex_direction="column",
        padding=1,
        border_style="round",
    )

render(counter())

Components

Box

Flexbox container, like <div>. Supports all flexbox props:

Box(
    *children,
    flex_direction="row",       # row | column | row-reverse | column-reverse
    justify_content="center",   # flex-start | center | flex-end | space-between | space-around | space-evenly
    align_items="stretch",      # flex-start | center | flex-end | stretch | baseline
    padding=1,                  # padding on all sides
    margin_top=1,               # individual margin
    border_style="round",       # single | double | round | bold | classic
    border_color="green",       # named color, hex, or rgb
    width=40,
    height=10,
    overflow="hidden",
)

Text

Text with styling:

Text("Hello", color="green", bold=True, italic=True, underline=True, strikethrough=True, dim_color=True, inverse=True)

Spacer

Fills available space (like flex: 1):

Box(Text("Left"), Spacer(), Text("Right"), flex_direction="row")

Static

Render items once (for logs, completed tasks):

Static(items=completed, render_item=lambda item, i: Text(f"Done: {item}"))

Transform

Transform text output per line:

Transform(Text("hello"), transform=lambda text, idx: text.upper())

Hooks

Hook	Description
use_state(initial)	Local state, returns (value, setter)
use_effect(fn, deps)	Side effects with cleanup
use_input(handler)	Keyboard input
use_app()	App lifecycle (exit(), wait_until_render_flush())
use_focus()	Tab-based focus
use_focus_manager()	Programmatic focus control
use_animation(interval=100)	Frame animation
use_window_size()	Terminal dimensions
use_ref(initial)	Mutable ref
use_memo(fn, deps)	Memoized value
use_paste(handler)	Paste events
use_stdout() / use_stderr() / use_stdin()	Stream access
use_cursor()	Cursor position
use_box_metrics(ref)	Element measurements
use_is_screen_reader_enabled()	Accessibility detection

Render Options

render(
    element,
    stdout=sys.stdout,              # output stream
    stdin=sys.stdin,                 # input stream
    stderr=sys.stderr,              # error stream
    exit_on_ctrl_c=True,            # exit on Ctrl+C
    use_alt_screen=False,           # alternate screen buffer (vim-like)
    max_fps=30,                     # max render frames per second
    debug=False,                    # each update as separate output
    interactive=None,               # override interactive mode detection
    incremental_rendering=False,    # only update changed lines
    patch_console=False,            # route print() through Ink output
    kitty_keyboard=None,            # kitty keyboard protocol options
    is_screen_reader_enabled=None,  # force screen reader mode
    on_render=None,                 # callback with render metrics
)

Examples

pip install pyinklib

python -m pyink.examples.counter            # Auto-incrementing counter
python -m pyink.examples.use_input          # Move a face with arrow keys
python -m pyink.examples.chat               # Type messages + Enter
python -m pyink.examples.select_input       # Arrow key selection list
python -m pyink.examples.dashboard          # Animated multi-panel dashboard
python -m pyink.examples.use_animation      # Unicorn animation
python -m pyink.examples.borders            # All 8 border styles
python -m pyink.examples.border_backgrounds # Per-edge border colors
python -m pyink.examples.box_backgrounds    # Background colors
python -m pyink.examples.use_focus          # Tab focus navigation
python -m pyink.examples.use_focus_with_id  # Programmatic focus by ID
python -m pyink.examples.focus              # Focus with visual indicators
python -m pyink.examples.table              # Data table with columns
python -m pyink.examples.justify_content    # All justify-content modes
python -m pyink.examples.terminal_resize    # Live terminal size display
python -m pyink.examples.use_stdout         # Terminal dimensions
python -m pyink.examples.alternate_screen   # Snake game (alt screen)
python -m pyink.examples.hello              # Hello World

Acknowledgements

PyInk is a 1:1 Python port of Ink by Vadim Demedes and the Ink contributors.

A huge thank you to the entire Ink team for creating such an incredible framework. The architecture, design, and attention to detail in Ink is what makes PyInk possible. Every component, hook, and rendering algorithm in PyInk is a direct port of Ink's TypeScript source code.

If you're building CLI tools in JavaScript/TypeScript, use Ink. If you're in Python, use PyInk.

License

MIT