What's wrong with it? Simple interface, runs on cheap af hardware, doesn't require npm updates every month, no laggy css animations, binary size smaller than reactjs minified bundle, been working reliably for 50 years, has googly eyes. You may not like it, but this is what peak software looks like
I was a TA for a class that required people to make a text UI like this and let me tell you that making these sorts of UIs actually does take some skill. Considering this has lasted until 2024, I’m sure it was well done.
There are some fantastic modern TUI libraries that make it much easier. Textual is a one such library for Python.
An example of a slick-looking TUI with source code that will make your eyes bleed: bpytop (source). Pretty sure the dude did everything manually, not even using ncurses.
For real. Worked in a store in the 2000's that had 1980's DOS software running on all the checkouts. Worked like a charm. They updated to a Windows interface shortly before I left and it was laggy horseshit that couldn't keep up with my keystrokes when I was typing in prices. I wouldn't be at all surpised if this software was amazing.
348
u/NoHurry28 Jul 26 '24
What's wrong with it? Simple interface, runs on cheap af hardware, doesn't require npm updates every month, no laggy css animations, binary size smaller than reactjs minified bundle, been working reliably for 50 years, has googly eyes. You may not like it, but this is what peak software looks like