How is textual compared to other TUI libraries?

[ws1088]

Hi, I am researching on what TUI libraries are out there. What's the advantage of textual over other TUI libraries out there? Also what are some of the use cases which TUI applications are desired? Thanks in advance.

[USLTD]

Hello @ws1088 .
Advantages of textual over other TUI (Text-based User Interface) libraries are following:

@@ Asynchronous, which is both advantage and disadvantage depending on situation @@
+ Supports `CSS` for styling
+ Based on `rich` meaning that it can render anything that `rich` can which means beautiful panels, trees, progress bars and more
+ Easy to design
+ Easy to add/create new widgets
- Lack of documentation (by @jeffwright13)
@@ Hard to debug possibly (by @jeffwright13) @@
- Speed (not versus libraries implemented in Python)

[jeffwright13]

Hello @ws1088 . Advantages of textual over other TUI (Text-based User Interface) libraries are following:

@@ Asynchronous, which is both advantage and disadvantage depending on situation @@
+ Supports `CSS` for styling
+ Based on `rich` meaning that it can render anything that `rich` can which means beautiful panels, trees, progress bars and more
+ Easy to design
+ Easy to add/create new widgets
- Speed (not versus libraries implemented in Python)

I'd say those are accurate. The only things I would add as a negative right now would be:

• lack of documentation
• difficulty of debugging (although this seems like an anycio thing, not specifically Textual)

[willmcgugan]

Textual is still a very early release. Docs and debugging tools are coming.

[jeffwright13]

Textual is still a very early release. Docs and debugging tools are coming.

Yep, thanks! But even at this stage it's too compelling to not mess around with. :-)