Very Computer

I'm writing a program that requires a line editor (like the one
Matlab or the shells "tcsh" and "bash" use).  Currently I use
curses, but want to move away from it for several reasons.
Essentially curses tries to do too much for what I want.

Specifically, how does one program the following (without curses):
  - move the cursor anywhere on current line
  - clear the screen and move to the top

I know how put the terminal in raw or cbreak mode, but cursor
movement on different terminals eludes me.  (Before I started
using curses, I actually used stuff like 'printf( "%c", 8 );'
to move backwards!  This didn't work very well on different
terminals.)

I have looked, briefly, at readline:  too much to digest.  Do I
need to go to the bookstore and buy something on termcap or
terminfo?  Is there a FAQ that might help?  My main targets right
now are Linux PC's and HP workstations.

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated!

Tim

: I'm writing a program that requires a line editor (like the one
: Matlab or the shells "tcsh" and "bash" use).  Currently I use
: curses, but want to move away from it for several reasons.
: Essentially curses tries to do too much for what I want.

: Specifically, how does one program the following (without curses):
:   - move the cursor anywhere on current line
:   - clear the screen and move to the top

: I know how put the terminal in raw or cbreak mode, but cursor
: movement on different terminals eludes me.  (Before I started
: using curses, I actually used stuff like 'printf( "%c", 8 );'
: to move backwards!  This didn't work very well on different
: terminals.)

: I have looked, briefly, at readline:  too much to digest.  Do I
: need to go to the bookstore and buy something on termcap or
: terminfo?  Is there a FAQ that might help?  My main targets right
: now are Linux PC's and HP workstations.

: Any pointers would be greatly appreciated!

: Tim

What you need to do is learn to use the TERMCAP, or TERMINFO libraries.
This is what most UNIX programs such as VI, ELM, etc... do to do their
own cursor control.  A good book on CURSES will also cover these topics.
I would suggest "UNIX CURSES Explained" by Bernie Goodheart.

Regards,
Stan Milam.