log-update

log-update

Log by overwriting the previous output in the terminal.
Useful for rendering progress bars, animations, etc.

It performs partial redraws when possible to reduce flicker.

Install

npm install log-update

Usage

import logUpdate from 'log-update';

const frames = ['-', '\\', '|', '/'];
let index = 0;

setInterval(() => {
	const frame = frames[index = ++index % frames.length];

	logUpdate(
`
        ♥♥
   ${frame} unicorns ${frame}
        ♥♥
`
	);
}, 80);

You can use yoctocolors or chalk to colorize the output.

API

logUpdate(text…)

Log to stdout.

logUpdate.clear()

Clear the logged output.

logUpdate.done()

Persist the logged output.

Useful if you want to start a new log session below the current one.

logUpdate.persist(text…)

Write text to the terminal that persists, similar to console.log().

Unlike the main logUpdate() method which updates in place, persist() writes to the terminal in a way that preserves the output in the scrollback history.

import logUpdate from 'log-update';

// Update in place
logUpdate('Processing...');
logUpdate('Still processing...');

// Write permanent output
logUpdate.persist('✓ Task complete');

// Continue updating
logUpdate('Next task...');

logUpdateStderr(text…)

Log to stderr.

logUpdateStderr.clear()

logUpdateStderr.done()

logUpdateStderr.persist(text…)

createLogUpdate(stream, options?)

Get a logUpdate method that logs to the specified stream.

options

Type: object

showCursor

Type: boolean
Default: false

Show the cursor. This can be useful when a CLI accepts input from a user.

import {createLogUpdate} from 'log-update';

// Write output but don't hide the cursor
const log = createLogUpdate(process.stdout, {
	showCursor: true
});

defaultWidth

Type: number
Default: 80

The width to use when the stream doesn't provide a columns property.

This is useful when the output is piped, redirected, or in environments where the terminal size is not available.

import {createLogUpdate} from 'log-update';

// Use custom width when the stream doesn't provide columns
const log = createLogUpdate(process.stdout, {
	defaultWidth: 120
});

defaultHeight

Type: number
Default: 24

The height to use when the stream doesn't provide a rows property.

This is useful when the output is piped, redirected, or in environments where the terminal size is not available.

import {createLogUpdate} from 'log-update';

// Use custom height when the stream doesn't provide rows
const log = createLogUpdate(process.stdout, {
	defaultHeight: 50
});

Examples

• listr - Uses this module to render an interactive task list
• ora - Uses this module to render awesome spinners
• speed-test - Uses this module to render a spinner

Similar packages

Other packages similar to log-update

ora

Ora is a terminal spinner library that provides a variety of spinner styles and allows for easy integration of spinners into your terminal applications. Unlike log-update, which focuses on updating log output, ora is specifically designed for creating and managing spinners.

cli-progress

cli-progress is a versatile progress bar library for the terminal. It supports multiple progress bars, custom bar styles, and various configuration options. While log-update can be used to create simple progress indicators, cli-progress offers more advanced and customizable progress bar functionalities.

blessed

Blessed is a comprehensive library for creating terminal user interfaces. It supports a wide range of widgets, including text boxes, buttons, and progress bars. Compared to log-update, which is focused on updating log output, blessed provides a full-featured framework for building complex terminal applications.