Beyond Linux® From Scratch (System V Edition) - Version 11.3

Chapter 10. Graphics and Font Libraries

newt-0.52.23

Introduction to newt

Newt is a programming library for color text mode, widget based user interfaces. It can be used to add stacked windows, entry widgets, checkboxes, radio buttons, labels, plain text fields, scrollbars, etc., to text mode user interfaces. Newt is based on the S-Lang library.

This package is known to build and work properly using an LFS 11.3 platform.

Package Information

Newt Dependencies

Required

popt-1.19 and slang-2.3.3

Recommended

GPM-1.20.7 (runtime)

User Notes: https://wiki.linuxfromscratch.org/blfs/wiki/newt

Installation of newt

Install newt by running the following command: 

sed -e '/install -m 644 $(LIBNEWT)/ s/^/#/' \
    -e '/$(LIBNEWT):/,/rv/ s/^/#/'          \
    -e 's/$(LIBNEWT)/$(LIBNEWTSH)/g'        \
    -i Makefile.in                          &&

./configure --prefix=/usr           \
            --with-gpm-support      \
            --with-python=python3.11 &&
make

This package does not come with a test suite.

Now, as the root user: 

make install

Command Explanations

sed -e ... -i Makefile.in: Disables installation of a static library.

--with-gpm-support: This switch enables mouse support for newt applications through GPM.

--with-python=python3.11: By giving explicitly the name of the directory where python modules reside, this switch prevents building the python2 module.

Contents

Installed Programs: whiptail
Installed Library: libnewt.so, whiptcl.so, and /usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/_snack.so
Installed Directories: None

Short Descriptions

whiptail

displays dialog boxes from shell scripts

libnewt.so

is the library for color text mode, widget based user interfaces