ImTui is an immediate mode text-based user interface library for C++.
ImTui solves the problem of building interactive terminal applications by adapting the immediate mode paradigm to text-based environments. It provides an ncurses interface that exposes the entire Dear ImGui API, allowing developers to use familiar ImGui widgets in the terminal. The library supports 256 ANSI colors and handles both mouse and keyboard input, enabling rich interactive experiences within terminal constraints.
ImTui suits developers building command-line tools, system utilities, and terminal dashboards who want the expressiveness of a modern UI framework without leaving the terminal. It works well for applications ranging from simple configuration editors to complex clients like Slack or Hacker News browsers. The project is particularly valuable for those already familiar with Dear ImGui, as the API translates directly to terminal contexts. The only dependency is libncurses on Linux and Mac, with partial Windows support available through MSYS2 and PDCurses.
The project maintains steady activity with regular commits addressing both bug fixes and feature additions. Development includes ongoing platform support improvements, particularly for Windows compatibility. The maintainer actively engages with community discussions and issues, responding to questions about building and extending the library. Examples and companion projects demonstrate practical applications of the framework across different use cases.
