creack/pty

PTY interface for Go

2,092

stars

121

commits

Go

primary language

Jun 1, 2026

updated

pkg.go.dev/github.com/creack/pty?tab=doc
cross-platform
go
pty
tty

README

pty

Pty is a Go package for using unix pseudo-terminals.

Install

go get github.com/creack/pty

Examples

Note that those examples are for demonstration purpose only, to showcase how to use the library. They are not meant to be used in any kind of production environment.

Command

package main

import (
	"io"
	"os"
	"os/exec"

	"github.com/creack/pty"
)

func main() {
	c := exec.Command("grep", "--color=auto", "bar")
	f, err := pty.Start(c)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	go func() {
		f.Write([]byte("foo\n"))
		f.Write([]byte("bar\n"))
		f.Write([]byte("baz\n"))
		f.Write([]byte{4}) // EOT
	}()
	io.Copy(os.Stdout, f)
}

Shell

package main

import (
        "io"
        "log"
        "os"
        "os/exec"
        "os/signal"
        "syscall"

        "github.com/creack/pty"
        "golang.org/x/term"
)

func test() error {
        // Create arbitrary command.
        c := exec.Command("bash")

        // Start the command with a pty.
        ptmx, err := pty.Start(c)
        if err != nil {
                return err
        }
        // Make sure to close the pty at the end.
        defer func() { _ = ptmx.Close() }() // Best effort.

        // Handle pty size.
        ch := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
        signal.Notify(ch, syscall.SIGWINCH)
        go func() {
                for range ch {
                        if err := pty.InheritSize(os.Stdin, ptmx); err != nil {
                                log.Printf("error resizing pty: %s", err)
                        }
                }
        }()
        ch <- syscall.SIGWINCH // Initial resize.
        defer func() { signal.Stop(ch); close(ch) }() // Cleanup signals when done.

        // Set stdin in raw mode.
        oldState, err := term.MakeRaw(int(os.Stdin.Fd()))
        if err != nil {
                panic(err)
        }
        defer func() { _ = term.Restore(int(os.Stdin.Fd()), oldState) }() // Best effort.

        // Copy stdin to the pty and the pty to stdout.
        // NOTE: The goroutine will keep reading until the next keystroke before returning.
        go func() { _, _ = io.Copy(ptmx, os.Stdin) }()
        _, _ = io.Copy(os.Stdout, ptmx)

        return nil
}

func main() {
        if err := test(); err != nil {
                log.Fatal(err)
        }
}

Contributors

(top 30 of 36)

creack

50 commits

kr

17 commits

sio

7 commits

WeidiDeng

6 commits

creack/pty

PTY interface for Go

2,092

stars

121

commits

Go

primary language

Jun 1, 2026

updated

pkg.go.dev/github.com/creack/pty?tab=doc
cross-platform
go
pty
tty

README

pty

Pty is a Go package for using unix pseudo-terminals.

Install

go get github.com/creack/pty

Examples

Note that those examples are for demonstration purpose only, to showcase how to use the library. They are not meant to be used in any kind of production environment.

Command

package main

import (
	"io"
	"os"
	"os/exec"

	"github.com/creack/pty"
)

func main() {
	c := exec.Command("grep", "--color=auto", "bar")
	f, err := pty.Start(c)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	go func() {
		f.Write([]byte("foo\n"))
		f.Write([]byte("bar\n"))
		f.Write([]byte("baz\n"))
		f.Write([]byte{4}) // EOT
	}()
	io.Copy(os.Stdout, f)
}

Shell

package main

import (
        "io"
        "log"
        "os"
        "os/exec"
        "os/signal"
        "syscall"

        "github.com/creack/pty"
        "golang.org/x/term"
)

func test() error {
        // Create arbitrary command.
        c := exec.Command("bash")

        // Start the command with a pty.
        ptmx, err := pty.Start(c)
        if err != nil {
                return err
        }
        // Make sure to close the pty at the end.
        defer func() { _ = ptmx.Close() }() // Best effort.

        // Handle pty size.
        ch := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
        signal.Notify(ch, syscall.SIGWINCH)
        go func() {
                for range ch {
                        if err := pty.InheritSize(os.Stdin, ptmx); err != nil {
                                log.Printf("error resizing pty: %s", err)
                        }
                }
        }()
        ch <- syscall.SIGWINCH // Initial resize.
        defer func() { signal.Stop(ch); close(ch) }() // Cleanup signals when done.

        // Set stdin in raw mode.
        oldState, err := term.MakeRaw(int(os.Stdin.Fd()))
        if err != nil {
                panic(err)
        }
        defer func() { _ = term.Restore(int(os.Stdin.Fd()), oldState) }() // Best effort.

        // Copy stdin to the pty and the pty to stdout.
        // NOTE: The goroutine will keep reading until the next keystroke before returning.
        go func() { _, _ = io.Copy(ptmx, os.Stdin) }()
        _, _ = io.Copy(os.Stdout, ptmx)

        return nil
}

func main() {
        if err := test(); err != nil {
                log.Fatal(err)
        }
}

Contributors

(top 30 of 36)

creack

50 commits

kr

17 commits

sio

7 commits

WeidiDeng

6 commits

Languages

Go

93.3%

Shell

5.6%

Assembly

1.1%