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Terminal UI DevTools

@nvms

Repository

About Terminal UI DevTools

What Chrome DevTools MCP is for the browser, tui-mcp is for the terminal. Launch any TUI app, take screenshots, send keystrokes, read text - works with any framework.

#terminal#tui#pty#devtools#testing#automation#screenshot

Config

Add this server to your MCP-compatible client using the configuration below.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tui-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "tui-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Tools

13

Spawn a TUI app in a managed pty

Terminate a session

List active sessions

Resize the terminal

Capture terminal as PNG

Capture terminal as plain text

Read a rectangular area of the buffer

Get cursor position

Send a keystroke or combo (`Enter`, `Ctrl+C`, `Up`, `q`)

Type a string of characters

Send mouse events

Wait for a regex pattern to appear

Wait until the terminal stops changing

Overview

What is Terminal UI DevTools?

Terminal UI DevTools (tui-mcp) is an MCP server that lets you launch any terminal application in a managed pseudo-terminal, take screenshots, read text, and send keystrokes. It works with any TUI framework or no framework at all—vim, htop, Bubbletea, Textual, Ink, Inquirer, Trend, ncurses, and more.

How to use Terminal UI DevTools?

Install and add it to Claude via the command:
claude mcp add --scope user tui-mcp -- npx tui-mcp
Once added, you can use the provided MCP tools to launch apps, interact with them, and capture output.

Key features of Terminal UI DevTools

  • Launch any TUI app in a managed pty
  • Capture terminal output as PNG or plain text
  • Send keystrokes, text, and mouse events
  • Wait for text patterns or terminal idle state
  • Resize the terminal and read cursor position
  • Works with any TUI framework or no framework

Use cases of Terminal UI DevTools

  • Automating interactions with terminal-based editors like vim
  • Testing TUI applications (Bubbletea, Textual, etc.)
  • Taking screenshots of terminal dashboards (htop, trend)
  • Simulating user input for terminal UI debugging
  • Integrating terminal apps into agent workflows

FAQ from Terminal UI DevTools

How does Terminal UI DevTools compare to Chrome DevTools MCP?

What Chrome DevTools MCP is for the browser, tui-mcp is for the terminal. It provides the same kind of programmatic control but for terminal applications.

How do I install Terminal UI DevTools?

Run claude mcp add --scope user tui-mcp -- npx tui-mcp in your terminal.

What terminal emulator does it use internally?

It uses xterm-headless – the same terminal emulator that powers VS Code’s terminal, but without a DOM.

Does it work with any TUI framework?

Yes. It works with any TUI framework (Bubbletea, Textual, Ink, etc.) or no framework at all – vim, htop, ncurses, and more.

Can I send

Frequently asked questions

How does Terminal UI DevTools compare to Chrome DevTools MCP?

What Chrome DevTools MCP is for the browser, tui-mcp is for the terminal. It provides the same kind of programmatic control but for terminal applications.

How do I install Terminal UI DevTools?

Run `claude mcp add --scope user tui-mcp -- npx tui-mcp` in your terminal.

What terminal emulator does it use internally?

It uses [xterm-headless](https://github.com/xtermjs/xterm.js) – the same terminal emulator that powers VS Code’s terminal, but without a DOM.

Does it work with any TUI framework?

Yes. It works with any TUI framework (Bubbletea, Textual, Ink, etc.) or no framework at all – vim, htop, ncurses, and more.

Comments

Basic information

Category

Developer Tools

Transports

stdio

Author

nvms

Submitted by

Jonathan Pyers

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