node-pty


forkpty(3) bindings for node.js. This allows you to fork processes with pseudoterminal file descriptors. It returns a terminal object which allows reads and writes.

This is useful for:

- Writing a terminal emulator (eg. via xterm.js).
- Getting certain programs to think you're a terminal, such as when you need a program to send you control sequences.

node-pty supports Linux, macOS and Windows. Windows support is possible by utilizing the Windows conpty API on Windows 1809+ and the winpty library in older version.

API

The full API for node-pty is contained within the TypeScript declaration file, use the branch/tag picker in GitHub (w) to navigate to the correct version of the API.

Example Usage

``js
var os = require('os');
var pty = require('node-pty');

var shell = os.platform() === 'win32' ? 'powershell.exe' : 'bash';

var ptyProcess = pty.spawn(shell, [], {
name: 'xterm-color',
cols: 80,
rows: 30,
cwd: process.env.HOME,
env: process.env
});

ptyProcess.onData((data) => {
process.stdout.write(data);
});

ptyProcess.write('ls\r');
ptyProcess.resize(100, 40);
ptyProcess.write('ls\r');
`

Real-world Uses

node-pty powers many different terminal emulators, including:

- Microsoft Visual Studio Code
- Hyper
- Upterm
- Script Runner for Atom.
- Theia
- FreeMAN file manager
- terminus - An Atom plugin for providing terminals inside your Atom workspace.
- x-terminal - Also an Atom plugin that provides terminals inside your Atom workspace.
- Termination - Also an Atom plugin that provides terminals inside your Atom workspace.
- atom-xterm - Also an Atom plugin that provides terminals inside your Atom workspace.
- electerm Terminal/SSH/SFTP client(Linux, macOS, Windows).
- Extraterm
- Wetty Browser based Terminal over HTTP and HTTPS
- nomad
- DockerStacks Local LAMP/LEMP stack using Docker
- TeleType: cli tool that allows you to share your terminal online conveniently. Show off mad cli-fu, help a colleague, teach, or troubleshoot.
- mesos-term: A web terminal for Apache Mesos. It allows to execute commands within containers.
- Commas: A hackable terminal and command runner.
- ENiGMA½ BBS Software: A modern BBS software with a nostalgic flair!
- Tinkerun: A new way of running Tinker.
- Tess: Hackable, simple and rapid terminal for the new era of technology 👍
- NxShell: An easy to use new terminal for Windows/Linux/MacOS platform.
- OpenSumi: A framework helps you quickly build Cloud or Desktop IDE products.

Do you use node-pty in your application as well? Please open a Pull Request to include it here. We would love to have it in our list.

Building

`bash


Install dependencies and build C++

npm install

Compile TypeScript -> JavaScript

npm run build
`

Dependencies

Node.JS 16 or Electron 19 is required to use node-pty. What version of node is supported is currently mostly bound to whatever version Visual Studio Code is using.

$3

`sh
sudo apt install -y make python build-essential
`

$3

Xcode is needed to compile the sources, this can be installed from the App Store.

$3

npm install requires some tools to be present in the system like Python and C++ compiler. Windows users can easily install them by running the following command in PowerShell as administrator. For more information see https://github.com/felixrieseberg/windows-build-tools:

`sh
npm install --global --production windows-build-tools
`

The following are also needed:

- Windows SDK - only the "Desktop C++ Apps" components are needed to be installed

Debugging

The wiki contains instructions for debugging node-pty.

Security

All processes launched from node-pty will launch at the same permission level of the parent process. Take care particularly when using node-pty inside a server that's accessible on the internet. We recommend launching the pty inside a container to protect your host machine.

Thread Safety

Note that node-pty is not thread safe so running it across multiple worker threads in node.js could cause issues.

Flow Control

Automatic flow control can be enabled by either providing handleFlowControl = true in the constructor options or setting it later on:

`js
const PAUSE = '\x13'; // XOFF
const RESUME = '\x11'; // XON

const ptyProcess = pty.spawn(shell, [], {handleFlowControl: true});

// flow control in action
ptyProcess.write(PAUSE); // pty will block and pause the child program
...
ptyProcess.write(RESUME); // pty will enter flow mode and resume the child program

// temporarily disable/re-enable flow control
ptyProcess.handleFlowControl = false;
...
ptyProcess.handleFlowControl = true;
`

By default PAUSE and RESUME are XON/XOFF control codes (as shown above). To avoid conflicts in environments that use these control codes for different purposes the messages can be customized as flowControlPause: string and flowControlResume: string in the constructor options. PAUSE and RESUME are not passed to the underlying pseudoterminal if flow control is enabled.

Troubleshooting

$3

> Internal Windows PowerShell error. Loading managed Windows PowerShell failed with error 8009001d.

This happens when PowerShell is launched with no SystemRoot environment variable present.

$3

This error can occur due to anti-virus software intercepting winpty from creating a pty. To workaround this you can exclude this file from your anti-virus scanning node-pty\build\Release\winpty-agent.exe`

pty.js

This project is forked from chjj/pty.js with the primary goals being to provide better support for later Node.JS versions and Windows.

License

Copyright (c) 2012-2015, Christopher Jeffrey (MIT License).

Copyright (c) 2016, Daniel Imms (MIT License).

Copyright (c) 2018, Microsoft Corporation (MIT License).