How To Install ncurses Library on a Linux
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Ineed to compile an application with ncurses library and header files. How do I install install ncurses libs and header files on a Linux operating system? How do I write a simple hello world program using the ncurses and compile it on a Linux?
GNU ncurses is software API for controlling writing to the console screen under Unix, Linux and other operating systems. You can create text-based user interfaces (TUI) on a Linux or Unix-like system using ncurses library.
| Tutorial details | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty level | Easy |
| Root privileges | Yes |
| Requirements | Linux terminal |
| Category | Package Manager |
| OS compatibility | Alma • Arch • Debian • Fedora • Mint • Pop!_OS • RHEL • Rocky • Stream • Ubuntu |
| Est. reading time | 3 minutes |
You need to install the following two packages:
libncurses5-dev : Developer’s libraries for ncurses
libncursesw5-dev : Developer’s libraries for ncursesw
Open the Terminal application.
Type the following apt-get command to install ncurses header and libs:
$ sudo apt-get install libncurses5-dev libncursesw5-dev
Fig.01: Install ncurses library using apt-getInstalling the ncurses library in CentOS/RHEL/Scientific Linux 6.x/7.x+ and Fedora Linux 21 or older
You need to install the following package:
ncurses-devel : Developer’s libraries for ncurses
Open the Terminal application.
Type the following yum command to install ncurses header and libs:
$ sudo yum install ncurses-devel
Fig.02: Install ncurses library using yumInstalling the ncurses library in Fedora Linux 22.x+
You need to install the following package:
ncurses-devel : Developer’s libraries for ncurses
Open the Terminal application.
Type the following dnf command to install ncurses header and libs:
$ sudo dnf install ncurses-develHow do compile C program and use the ncurses library?
Create a test program called hello.c as follows:
#include <ncurses.h> int main(void){ initscr(); /* Start curses mode */ printw(“Hello World! Press any key to exit …”); /* Print Hello World */ refresh(); /* Print it on to the real screen */ getch(); /* Wait for user input */ endwin(); /* End curses mode */ return 0; }
First, make sure you install GNU/GCC C compiler on a Linux:
CentOS / RHEL 7: Install GCC (C and C++ Compiler) and Development Tools
Debian Linux Install GNU GCC Compiler and Development Environment
To link to the ncurses library pass the -lncurses option to gcc/cc command:
$ cc -o output input.c -lncurses
$ cc -o hello hello.c -lncursesRun it:
$ ./helloSample outputs:
Hello World! Press any key to exit …
Here is another program:
/* CURWIN1.C ========= (c) Copyright Paul Griffiths 1999 Email: mail@paulgriffiths.net Moving windows with ncurses. */ #include <stdlib.h> #include <stdio.h> #include <curses.h> int main(void) { WINDOW * mainwin, * childwin; int ch; /* Set the dimensions and initial position for our child window */ int width = 23, height = 7; int rows = 25, cols = 80; int x = (cols – width) / 2; int y = (rows – height) / 2; /* Initialize ncurses */ if ( (mainwin = initscr()) == NULL ) { fprintf(stderr, “Error initialising ncurses.\n“); exit(EXIT_FAILURE); } /* Switch of echoing and enable keypad (for arrow keys) */ noecho(); keypad(mainwin, TRUE); /* Make our child window, and add a border and some text to it. */ childwin = subwin(mainwin, height, width, y, x); box(childwin, 0, 0); mvwaddstr(childwin, 1, 4, “Move the window”); mvwaddstr(childwin, 2, 2, “with the arrow keys”); mvwaddstr(childwin, 3, 6, “or HOME/END”); mvwaddstr(childwin, 5, 3, “Press ‘q’ to quit”); refresh(); /* Loop until user hits ‘q’ to quit */ while ( (ch = getch()) != ‘q’ ) { switch ( ch ) { case KEY_UP: if ( y > 0 ) –y; break; case KEY_DOWN: if ( y < (rows – height) ) ++y; break; case KEY_LEFT: if ( x > 0 ) –x; break; case KEY_RIGHT: if ( x < (cols – width) ) ++x; break; case KEY_HOME: x = 0; y = 0; break; case KEY_END: x = (cols – width); y = (rows – height); break; } mvwin(childwin, y, x); wrefresh(childwin); } /* Clean up after ourselves */ delwin(childwin); delwin(mainwin); endwin(); refresh(); return EXIT_SUCCESS; }
Compile and run it as follows:
$ cc -o curwin1 curwin1.c -lncurses
$ ./curwin1Sample outputs:
Fig.03: Basic window operations in action using ncursesSee this page and GNU ncurses project home page for more information.
This entry is 10 of 13 in the Linux GNU/GCC Compilers Tutorial series. Keep reading the rest of the series:Ubuntu Linux Install GNU GCC Compiler and Development Environment
Debian Linux Install GNU GCC Compiler and Development Environment
CentOS / RHEL 7: Install GCC (C and C++ Compiler) and Development Tools
Download and Install C, C++ Compiler on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (RHEL)
Mac OS X: Install GCC Compiler with Xcode
Where is My Linux GNU C or GCC Compilers Are Installed?
HowTo: Compile And Run a C/C++ Code In Linux
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Ineed to compile an application with ncurses library and header files. How do I install install ncurses libs and header files on a Linux operating system? How do I write a simple hello world program using the ncurses and compile it on a Linux? GNU ncurses is software API for…
Ineed to compile an application with ncurses library and header files. How do I install install ncurses libs and header files on a Linux operating system? How do I write a simple hello world program using the ncurses and compile it on a Linux? GNU ncurses is software API for…