# Tui Testing Debug

> Methods for debugging and unit testing Bubble Tea TUIs without a visible terminal. Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/tui-testing-debug` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/tui-testing-debug`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/tui-testing-debug/raw
- Safety review: pending
- 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/tui-testing-debug

---


## What I do
- Implement logging to file (standard TUI debugging).
- Setup `teatest` for automated TUI testing.
- Handle terminal recovery logic.

## Best Practices
1. **Log to File:** Since `fmt.Println` breaks the TUI, use `tea.LogToFile("debug.log", "prefix")` for development.
2. **Testing with Teatest:** Use `github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea/teatest` to simulate keypresses and assert the final view string.
3. **Panic Recovery:** Use `tea.WithAltScreen()` and ensure errors are returned through `p.Run()` rather than calling `os.Exit` inside the model.

## Example: File Logging
```go
if len(os.Getenv("DEBUG")) > 0 {
    f, err := tea.LogToFile("debug.log", "debug")
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatal(err)
    }
    defer f.Close()
}

---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-16 -->