FTXUI vs Textual
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A C++ library for building terminal user interfaces with no dependencies.
Open source · MIT
A Python framework for building terminal and web-browser user interfaces.
The short answer
Choose FTXUI if you need…
- C++ developers who want interactive text-based tools in the terminal
- Developers who want a library with no external dependencies
- Projects that need layouts like boxes, grids, and flexible spacing in a console
- Developers who want to use the library through CMake, Bazel, vcpkg, or Conan
Choose Textual if you need…
- Python developers who want a terminal app with buttons, tables and forms
- Developers building internal tools or dashboards that run over SSH or in a terminal
- Teams that want to share a terminal app in the browser using textual serve
- Developers who want a testing framework for their UI code
Side-by-side
| FTXUI | Textual | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Framework |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 10.9k | 37.6k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
| How you get it | Clone and build from source | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | C++ | Python |
| Last code update | 5 days ago | 28 days ago |
What each one is
FTXUI
FTXUI is a C++ library that lets programmers draw interactive interfaces inside a terminal window, with layouts, colors, borders, buttons and mouse or keyboard input. It uses a functional style where the interface is described as a tree of elements. It is meant for building text-based tools that run in a console rather than in a graphical window.
Textual
Textual is a Python framework for building interactive user interfaces that run in a terminal window, and can also be served to a web browser. It provides ready-made widgets such as buttons, data tables, inputs and text areas, plus a layout system and themes. People use it to make text-based apps and dashboards with a simple Python API.
Best for
FTXUI
- C++ developers who want interactive text-based tools in the terminal
- Developers who want a library with no external dependencies
- Projects that need layouts like boxes, grids, and flexible spacing in a console
- Developers who want to use the library through CMake, Bazel, vcpkg, or Conan
Textual
- Python developers who want a terminal app with buttons, tables and forms
- Developers building internal tools or dashboards that run over SSH or in a terminal
- Teams that want to share a terminal app in the browser using textual serve
- Developers who want a testing framework for their UI code
Strengths
FTXUI
- The README states it has no dependencies
- It is available through many package managers and build systems, including CMake FetchContent
- It includes examples, documentation, tests, and a WebAssembly build of its examples
Textual
- Simple Python API with predefined themes that look good by default
- Includes a testing framework and a dev console for debugging
- Same app can run in a terminal or a web browser
Not ideal for
FTXUI
- People who are not writing C++ code, since the README describes only a C++ library
- Projects needing a graphical desktop window, because FTXUI renders to the terminal
- Teams that need Windows support as a primary target, since the README lists Linux and macOS as the main targets with Windows added by contributors
Textual
- Non-programmers, since apps are built by writing Python code
- Projects needing a native desktop or mobile GUI, since the README describes terminal and browser targets only
- Developers who need a non-Python language, since the framework is Python-specific
Trade-offs
FTXUI
- It is a C++ library, so you need to be comfortable with C++ and a build system
- The README describes Windows support as added by contributors rather than as a main target
- The README is truncated here, so details about the full API and stability are not confirmed
Textual
- Limited to what the terminal and browser targets allow; not a native GUI toolkit
- The README does not detail the web-serving limits or production hosting guidance
- Async support is optional but the framework is built on async internals, which may add learning curve
Getting started
FTXUI
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ArthurSonzogni/FTXUIFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between FTXUI and Textual?
FTXUI: A C++ library for building terminal user interfaces with no dependencies. Textual: A Python framework for building terminal and web-browser user interfaces. FTXUI suits c++ developers who want interactive text-based tools in the terminal, while Textual suits python developers who want a terminal app with buttons, tables and forms.
Are FTXUI and Textual free?
FTXUI: Free and open source. Textual: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, FTXUI or Textual?
Textual is easier to get started with (rated beginner); FTXUI is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is FTXUI or Textual more popular?
Textual has more GitHub stars (37.6k) than FTXUI (10.9k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to FTXUI and Textual?
Other options people compare them with include tview, Terminal.Gui, CustomTkinter, xterm.js, Rich.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.