Raxol
View SourceTerminal Application Framework
Terminal framework supporting React, Svelte, LiveView, and HEEx UI patterns.
Features
- Sub-microsecond parser operations
- Multi-framework UI support (React, Svelte, LiveView, HEEx)
- Enterprise features: audit logging, encryption, SAML/OIDC
- Graphics: Sixel support, session continuity
- NEW: VIM navigation, command parser, fuzzy search, virtual filesystem, cursor effects
Modular Packages (v2.0+)
Raxol is now available as focused, independently releasable packages:
- raxol_core - Lightweight buffer primitives (< 100KB, zero deps)
- raxol_liveview - Phoenix LiveView integration
- raxol_plugin - Plugin system
- raxol - Full framework (includes all packages)
See Package Guide for detailed comparison, migration paths, and installation instructions.
Quick Start
Installation
Choose your package based on needs:
# Minimal - Just terminal buffers
{:raxol_core, "~> 2.0"}
# Web integration - Add LiveView support
{:raxol_core, "~> 2.0"},
{:raxol_liveview, "~> 2.0"}
# Extensible apps - Add plugin system
{:raxol_core, "~> 2.0"},
{:raxol_plugin, "~> 2.0"}
# Or use v1.x (full framework)
{:raxol, "~> 2.0"}Using runtime: false provides UI components without terminal emulator runtime for:
- Web applications
- Component libraries
- Testing UI logic
- Reduced application size
Development Setup
# Clone and explore
git clone https://github.com/Hydepwns/raxol.git
cd raxol
mix deps.get
# Run quality checks
mix raxol.check
# Run tests
TMPDIR=/tmp SKIP_TERMBOX2_TESTS=true MIX_ENV=test mix test
# Generate type specs
mix raxol.gen.specs lib --recursive
Choose Your Framework
use Raxol.UI, framework: :react # Familiar React patterns
use Raxol.UI, framework: :svelte # Reactive with compile-time optimization
use Raxol.UI, framework: :liveview # Phoenix LiveView patterns
use Raxol.UI, framework: :heex # Phoenix templates
use Raxol.UI, framework: :raw # Direct terminal controlReact-Style Example
defmodule MyApp do
use Raxol.Component
def render(assigns) do
~H"""
<Box padding={2}>
<Text color="green" bold>Hello, Raxol!</Text>
<Button on_click={@on_click}>Click me!</Button>
</Box>
"""
end
endEmulator Usage
# Default configuration
emulator = Emulator.new(80, 24)
# With GenServers for concurrent operations
emulator = Emulator.new(80, 24, use_genservers: true)
# Minimal configuration
emulator = Emulator.new(80, 24, enable_history: false, alternate_buffer: false)Components-Only Mode
When importing Raxol with runtime: false, you get access to:
UI Components
- All framework adapters (React, Svelte, LiveView, HEEx)
- Complete component library (Button, Input, Table, Modal, etc.)
- State management and context systems
- Animation and transition engines
- Theme system and styling utilities
Not Included in Components-Only
- Terminal emulator runtime
- ANSI/VT100 sequence processing
- PTY/TTY management
- SSH session handling
- Sixel graphics rendering
This makes Raxol perfect as a lightweight UI component library for web applications or other non-terminal use cases.
Architecture
Terminal Framework
- VT100/ANSI compliance with modern extensions
- Sixel graphics, GPU acceleration
- Mouse support, event handling
- Tab completion, command history
UI System
- Universal features: actions, transitions, context, slots
- 60 FPS animation engine
- Component composition, theming
Enterprise Features
- Session continuity
- Real-time collaboration with CRDT sync
- SOC2/HIPAA/GDPR audit logging
- AES-256-GCM encryption with key rotation
Performance
| Metric | Raxol | Alacritty | Kitty | iTerm2 | WezTerm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parser Speed | 3.3μs/op | ~5μs/op | ~4μs/op | ~15μs/op | ~6μs/op |
| Memory Usage | 2.8MB | ~15MB | ~25MB | ~50MB | ~20MB |
| Startup Time | <10ms | ~50ms | ~40ms | ~100ms | ~60ms |
| Test Suite | 793 tests | ~800 tests | ~600 tests | ~500 tests | ~700 tests |
Additional Metrics
- Cursor Operations: 0.5μs per movement
- Buffer Write: 1.2μs per character
- Screen Clear: <50μs for full screen
- Input Latency: <2ms keyboard to screen
- Render Performance: 60 FPS maintained
Documentation
Getting Started
- Quickstart - 5/10/15 minute tutorials
- Core Concepts - Understand buffers and rendering
- Migration Guide - For teams with existing terminal code
Cookbooks
- LiveView Integration - Render terminals in Phoenix
- Performance Optimization - 60fps techniques
- Theming - Custom color schemes
Features
- VIM Navigation - VIM-style keybindings and movement
- Command Parser - Tab completion, history, argument parsing
- Fuzzy Search - Multi-mode search with highlighting
- File System - Virtual filesystem with Unix commands
- Cursor Effects - Visual trails and glow effects
- Features Overview - Complete guide to all features
API Reference
- Buffer API - Complete buffer operations reference
- Architecture - Design decisions and internals
- Full Documentation - Complete API reference
Recent Features
- Feature Additions (v2.0.0 Phase 6) - VIM navigation, command parser, fuzzy search, filesystem, cursor effects
- Documentation Overhaul (v2.0.0 Phase 4) - Beginner-friendly guides and practical cookbooks
- Plugin System (v2.0.0 Phase 3) - Spotify plugin showcase
- LiveView Integration (v2.0.0 Phase 2) - Terminal rendering in Phoenix
- Raxol.Core (v2.0.0 Phase 1) - Lightweight buffer primitives (< 100KB, zero deps)
- Code Consolidation (v1.5.4) - BaseManager pattern, TimerManager integration, 99.8% test coverage
- Type Spec Generator (v1.4.1) - Automated type specification generation
- Unified Configuration (v1.4.1) - TOML-based configuration system
VS Code Extension
Development version available in editors/vscode/. To install:
cd editors/vscode
npm install
npm run compile
code --install-extension .
Features: syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, component snippets, live preview
Use Cases
Use cases: terminal IDEs, DevOps tools, system monitoring, database clients, chat applications, games.
License
MIT License - see LICENSE.md