Pure Rust terminal UI library with pane-based layout, ANSI 256-color support, diff-based rendering, input handling, popups, and Unicode support. Feature clone of rcurses.

Foundation library for pointer, scroll, kastrup, and tock.

Quick Start

[dependencies]
crust = { version = "0.1", path = "../crust" }

use crust::{Crust, Pane, Input};
fn main() {
    Crust::init();
    let (cols, rows) = Crust::terminal_size();
    let mut pane = Pane::new(1, 1, cols, rows - 1, 255, 0);
    pane.border = true;
    pane.border_refresh();
    pane.say("Hello from crust!");
    Input::getchr(None);
    Crust::cleanup();
}

Features

Pane - Positioned rectangle with content, borders, scrolling, diff-based rendering
Popup - Modal dialog with selection (returns chosen index)
Input - Key event reading with rcurses-compatible names (UP, DOWN, C-A, F1, etc.)
Cursor - Full cursor positioning and control
Style - fg/bg/bold/italic/underline/reverse/blink with 256-color and RGB

API Reference

Pane

let mut pane = Pane::new(x, y, w, h, fg, bg);
pane.border = true;         // Border drawn OUTSIDE pane area
pane.scroll = true;         // Show scroll indicators
pane.align = Align::Left;   // Left, Center, Right
pane.set_text("content");   // Set content (preserves scroll)
pane.say("text");           // Set + refresh + reset scroll
pane.refresh();             // Diff-based render (only changed lines)
pane.full_refresh();        // Force complete repaint
pane.border_refresh();      // Redraw border only
pane.clear();               // Clear content and screen area
pane.lineup() / linedown()  // Scroll by line
pane.pageup() / pagedown()  // Scroll by page
pane.top() / bottom()       // Jump to extremes
let s = pane.ask("Prompt: ", "default"); // Single-line input

Input

let key = Input::getchr(None);           // Block until key
let key = Input::getchr(Some(5));        // 5-second timeout
// Returns: "UP", "DOWN", "LEFT", "RIGHT", "ENTER", "ESC",
//          "PgUP", "PgDOWN", "HOME", "END", "TAB", "S-TAB",
//          "C-A".."C-Z", "F1".."F12", "S-UP", "S-DOWN", etc.

Style

use crust::style;
style::fg("text", 196)           // Foreground color
style::bg("text", 226)           // Background color
style::fb("text", 255, 0)        // Both
style::bold("text")              // Bold
style::italic("text")            // Italic
style::underline("text")         // Underline
style::reverse("text")           // Reverse video
style::coded("text", "196,0,bi") // Coded: fg,bg,attrs
style::styled("text", "196,0,bi")  // Alias for coded()

Popup

let mut popup = Popup::centered(40, 20, 255, 234);
let selection = popup.modal("line1\nline2\nline3");
// Returns Some(index) on Enter, None on ESC

Architecture

Border is drawn outside the pane area (matching rcurses). The pane's (x, y, w, h) IS the content area. content_area() always returns (x, y, w, h). Line truncation preserves ANSI codes. Tab expansion and ANSI reset restoration ensure correct rendering in all panes.

Part of the Fe2O3 Rust Terminal Suite

See the Fe₂O₃ suite overview and the landing page for the full list of projects.

Tool	Clones	Type
rush	rsh	Shell
crust	rcurses	TUI library
glow	termpix	Image display
plot	termchart	Charts
pointer	RTFM	File manager

License

Unlicense - public domain.

Credits

Created by Geir Isene (https://isene.org) with extensive pair-programming with Claude Code.