[Tutor] What is Curses and why do they call it that.

[Bill Campbell]

On Tue, Oct 13, 2009, Alan Gauld wrote:
>
> "Katt" <the_only_katala at verizon.net> wrote
>
>> Some documentation indicate it as a module that will translate commands 
>> to control screen output.  Is this right?  Also, why do they call it  
>> curses?
>
> Thats right, it provides a way to draw GUI like "windows" on the screen
> using graphics characters if they are available or plain ASCII if not, thus
> it offers a degree of terminal independance. It was popular in the period
> before GUIs became normal but after they became desirable - ie
> around 1985-1995.

And should be more desirable today for applications that require
efficient, heads-down data entry where one does not want to take
fingers off of home keys or numeric keypads.

Bill
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