# Terminal Emulator

> Test interactive CLI/TUI applications using @microsoft/tui-test. Use when you need to test CLI tools with interactive prompts, TUI rendering, arrow key navigation, or any command that requires a TTY. Triggers include "test CLI", "test TUI", "run interactively", "automate terminal input", "simulate user input in terminal". Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/terminal-emulator` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/terminal-emulator`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/terminal-emulator/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/terminal-emulator

---


# Testing Interactive CLI / TUI with @microsoft/tui-test

Playwright-like API for terminals. Real PTY per test. Made by Microsoft.

- **GitHub**: https://github.com/microsoft/tui-test
- **npm**: `@microsoft/tui-test`

## Install

```bash
yarn add -D @microsoft/tui-test
```

## Usage

```typescript
import { test, expect } from '@microsoft/tui-test';

test.use({ program: { file: 'node', args: ['./my-cli.js'] } });

test('selects option and proceeds', async ({ terminal }) => {
    await expect(terminal.getByText('Select an option')).toBeVisible();
    await terminal.write('\x1B[B');  // Arrow Down
    await terminal.submit();          // Enter
    await expect(terminal.getByText('Option 2 selected')).toBeVisible();
});

test('matches snapshot', async ({ terminal }) => {
    await expect(terminal).toMatchSnapshot();
});
```

## API

```typescript
// Navigation
await terminal.write('\x1B[A');    // Arrow Up
await terminal.write('\x1B[B');    // Arrow Down
await terminal.write('\x1B[C');    // Arrow Right
await terminal.write('\x1B[D');    // Arrow Left
await terminal.submit();           // Enter
await terminal.write('\t');        // Tab
await terminal.write('\x03');      // Ctrl+C
await terminal.write('\x1B');      // Escape
await terminal.write('\x7F');      // Backspace
await terminal.write('hello');     // Type text

// Assertions
await expect(terminal.getByText('pattern')).toBeVisible();
await expect(terminal.getByText('pattern', { full: true })).toBeVisible();
await expect(terminal).toMatchSnapshot();

// Reading
const content = terminal.content;  // Full terminal content as string
```

## Running

```bash
npx tui-test                       # Run all tests
npx tui-test --update-snapshots    # Update snapshots
npx tui-test my-test.ts            # Run specific test
```

## Reference

- Used by VS Code terminal team
- Real PTY isolation per test (no mocking)
- Auto-waits for terminal renders
- Cross-platform (macOS, Linux, Windows)
- Snapshot testing built-in

---
> Source: [slopus/happy](https://github.com/slopus/happy) — distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io).
<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-06-24 -->