Ncurses
Ncurses (new curses) is a programming library that provides an API for creating text-based user interfaces (TUIs) in a terminal-independent manner. It allows developers to control cursor movement, window management, colors, and input handling for building interactive console applications like text editors, system monitors, and games. It is widely used on Unix-like systems as a successor to the original curses library.
Developers should learn Ncurses when building cross-platform terminal applications that require advanced UI features beyond simple text output, such as menu systems, forms, or real-time updates. It is essential for system administration tools, embedded systems with limited graphical capabilities, and legacy software maintenance, as it provides efficient, low-overhead interfaces without relying on graphical environments.