Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Ito – build terminal UI in Lua

Create and try terminal interfaces with Lua.

Ito is a development tool for building terminal user interfaces using Lua. Developers write code with require("ito") to create views using components like VStack, HStack, and Text, with styling options for spacing… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes.

1. 1
   Iota – a text editor written in Rust▲221

   A terminal-based text editor written in Rust. Contribute to gchp/iota development by creating an account on GitHub.

   2014 · github.com · its alternatives →

2. 2AP
   A plain-text file format for todos and check lists▲452

   After having cycled through various CLI-based todo apps, I started to realise that I actually don’t need a tool at all for managing my todos. Most of the time, my use cases are quite simple, like viewing my todo items, checking them off, or adding a new one. Rather than having to memorise CLI commands for these interactions (which I’m not super good at), I figured that it’s easier for me to use my text editor directly, and have an editor plugin help me with the visual structure and some convenience functionality. So, kind-of similar to Emacs Org Mode, but without having to use Emacs. I…

   2022 · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Lite – A small, fast text editor▲607

   A lightweight text editor written in Lua. Contribute to rxi/lite development by creating an account on GitHub.

   2020 · github.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Lua Carousel, create little programs on desktop or mobile devices▲165

   Write programs on desktop and mobile

   2023 · akkartik.itch.io · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Haystack – an IDE for exploring and editing code on an infinite canvas▲546

   Hi HN, we’re building Haystack Editor (https://haystackeditor.com/), a canvas-based IDE that automates the boring stuff (plumbing, refactoring, and finding code) so that you can focus on the exciting parts of software development! You can see a quick overview of Haystack at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2uZnR5D_cc! (It's currently only on Mac OS but we're working on Linux and Windows. Edit: just added a Linux download!) Haystack was born out of our frustrations with working in large and mature codebases, specifically with navigating and editing functional…

   2024 · haystackeditor.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   A console-based editor with Lua support, based on antirez's project▲85

   A minimal text-editor with lua scripting. Contribute to skx/kilua development by creating an account on GitHub.

   2016 · github.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   C1 by Thesys▲629

   Make AI apps respond with interactive UI in real-time

   2025 · thesys.dev · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Promptui – Rich UI elements for cli prompts in Go▲196

   Interactive prompt for command-line applications. Contribute to manifoldco/promptui development by creating an account on GitHub.

   2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Clide ▲93

   Grid-layout terminal with an AI that drives your shells.

   Apr 2026 · clide.app · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Sublime Todo▲262

    Minimalist, text editor-based task management for macOS

    2024 · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Libmui is a macOS Classic widget lib for Linux▲300

    Not sure if I would post this for the last day of #marchintosh OR wait for tomorrow the 1st of April. Both apply equally. Anyway, here's a pet project of mine, I made it as a glued on for another pet project of mine, but it developed a life of it's own now and can soar skyward toward success, fame, and glory.

    2024 · github.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Solis▲348

    A live design output that integrates with code editor

    2018 · solisapp.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Building terminal dashboards using ASCII/ANSI art and JavaScript▲305

    Build terminal dashboards using ascii/ansi art and javascript - yaronn/blessed-contrib

    2015 · github.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Slint – A declarative UI toolkit for embedded and desktop▲291

    Slint is a declarative GUI toolkit written primarily in Rust, with API support for multiple programming languages such as C++ and JavaScript. It is designed for desktop and embedded usage. The Slint website has just been redesigned. And we added a new Royalty-Free License option besides GPL and commercial

    2023 · slint.dev · its alternatives →

15. 15KL
    kiUi – Lightweight auto-layout stylable UI toolkit▲136

    2015 · novembermonk.github.io · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Evolved.lua – An Evolved Entity Component System for Lua▲55

    I'm excited to announce the first release of my library, evolved.lua! evolved.lua is a fast and flexible ECS (Entity-Component-System) library for Lua. It is designed to be simple and easy to use, while providing all the features needed to create complex systems with blazing performance. Enjoy!

    2025 · github.com · its alternatives →

17. 17FA
    Fresh – A new terminal editor built in Rust▲187

    I built Fresh to challenge the status quo that terminal editing must require a steep learning curve or endless configuration. My goal was to create a fast, resource-efficient TUI editor with the usability and features of a modern GUI editor (like a command palette, mouse support, and LSP integration). Core Philosophy: - Ease-of-Use: Fundamentally non-modal. Prioritizes standard keybindings and a minimal learning curve. - Efficiency: Uses a lazy-loading piece tree to avoid loading huge files into RAM - reads only what's needed for user interactions. Coded in Rust. - Extensibility: Uses…

    Dec 2025 · sinelaw.github.io · its alternatives →

18. 18
    LangUI▲131

    Open source UI components tailored for your AI projects

    2023 · langui.dev · its alternatives →

19. 19
    A little eye-candy for the terminal (in Go)▲56

    Print your name in style. Contribute to arsham/figurine development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2018 · github.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    FlakeUI▲138

    2025 · github.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    CheapUI▲122

    AI-powered UI component generator for web development

    2025 · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Ki Editor – Multicursor syntactical editor▲138

    Hi everyone, I have been developing this editor, Ki, for over a year, and have employed it substantially in all kinds of development (including Ki itself) for at least 3 months. I think it is mostly crystallized, thus I'm happy to share it with you today. Its main strength is first-class multi-cursor and structural (syntax) editing, which is a rare combination in the realm of editors (TUI or GUI alike). Hope you'll enjoy it!

    2024 · ki-editor.github.io · its alternatives →

23. 23
    A make-like build utility based on Lua▲16

    🔥 A cross-platform build utility based on Lua. Contribute to xmake-io/xmake development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    txt.edit▲109

    The missing text editor for iPhone & iPad

    2020 · txtedit.dev · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →