diff --git a/config.nims b/config.nims
index 34d2b0b..88f3b55 100644
--- a/config.nims
+++ b/config.nims
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task test, "run tests":
   selfExec "r tests/tbbansi.nim"
 
 task develop, "install cligen for development":
-  exec "nimble install -l 'illwill@0.4.1'"
   exec "nimble install -l 'cligen@1.7.5'"
 
 proc docFixup(deployDir:string, pkgName: string) =
@@ -31,4 +30,3 @@ task docs, "Deploy doc html + search index to public/ directory":
 
 when withDir(thisDir(), system.dirExists("nimbledeps")):
   --path:"./nimbledeps/pkgs2/cligen-1.7.5-f3ffe7329c8db755677d3ca377d02ff176cec8b1"
-  --path:"./nimbledeps/pkgs2/illwill-0.4.1-9c58351502f89a16caf031cbd1992ad3fdfd3c67"
diff --git a/src/hwylterm/chooser.nim b/src/hwylterm/chooser.nim
index bd4c801..cce53fd 100644
--- a/src/hwylterm/chooser.nim
+++ b/src/hwylterm/chooser.nim
@@ -11,12 +11,7 @@
 
 import std/[enumerate, os, strutils, sequtils, sets, terminal]
 import ./bbansi
-
-template tryImport*(x, body) =
-  when not (compiles do: import x): body else: import x
-tryImport illwill:
-  {.fatal: "hwylterm/choose requires illwill >= 0.4.1".}
-
+import ./vendor/illwill
 
 proc exitProc() {.noconv.} =
   illwillDeInit()
diff --git a/src/hwylterm/vendor/illwill.nim b/src/hwylterm/vendor/illwill.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d1cecf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/hwylterm/vendor/illwill.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,1659 @@
+## :Authors: John Novak
+##
+## This is a *curses* inspired simple terminal library that aims to make
+## writing cross-platform text mode applications easier. The main features are:
+##
+## * Non-blocking keyboard input
+## * Support for key combinations and special keys available in the standard
+##   Windows Console (`cmd.exe`) and most common POSIX terminals
+## * Virtual terminal buffers with double-buffering support (only
+##   display changes from the previous frame and minimise the number of
+##   attribute changes to reduce CPU usage)
+## * Simple graphics using UTF-8 box drawing symbols
+## * Full-screen support with restoring the contents of the terminal after
+##   exit (restoring works only on POSIX)
+## * Basic suspend/continue (`SIGTSTP`, `SIGCONT`) support on POSIX
+## * Basic mouse support
+##
+## The module depends only on the standard `terminal
+## <https://nim-lang.org/docs/terminal.html>`_ module. However, you
+## should not use any terminal functions directly, neither should you use
+## `echo`, `write` or other similar functions for output. You should **only**
+## use the interface provided by the module to interact with the terminal.
+##
+## The following symbols are exported from the terminal_ module (these are
+## safe to use):
+##
+## * `terminalWidth() <https://nim-lang.org/docs/terminal.html#terminalWidth>`_
+## * `terminalHeight() <https://nim-lang.org/docs/terminal.html#terminalHeight>`_
+## * `terminalSize() <https://nim-lang.org/docs/terminal.html#terminalSize>`_
+## * `hideCursor() <https://nim-lang.org/docs/terminal.html#hideCursor.t>`_
+## * `showCursor() <https://nim-lang.org/docs/terminal.html#showCursor.t>`_
+## * `Style <https://nim-lang.org/docs/terminal.html#Style>`_
+##
+{.push hints:off .}
+import macros, os, terminal, unicode, bitops
+
+export terminal.terminalWidth
+export terminal.terminalHeight
+export terminal.terminalSize
+export terminal.hideCursor
+export terminal.showCursor
+export terminal.Style
+
+type
+  ForegroundColor* = enum   ## Foreground colors
+    fgNone = 0,             ## default
+    fgBlack = 30,           ## black
+    fgRed,                  ## red
+    fgGreen,                ## green
+    fgYellow,               ## yellow
+    fgBlue,                 ## blue
+    fgMagenta,              ## magenta
+    fgCyan,                 ## cyan
+    fgWhite                 ## white
+
+  BackgroundColor* = enum   ## Background colors
+    bgNone = 0,             ## default (transparent)
+    bgBlack = 40,           ## black
+    bgRed,                  ## red
+    bgGreen,                ## green
+    bgYellow,               ## yellow
+    bgBlue,                 ## blue
+    bgMagenta,              ## magenta
+    bgCyan,                 ## cyan
+    bgWhite                 ## white
+
+  Key* {.pure.} = enum      ## Supported single key presses and key combinations
+    None = (-1, "None"),
+
+    # Special ASCII characters
+    CtrlA  = (1, "CtrlA"),
+    CtrlB  = (2, "CtrlB"),
+    CtrlC  = (3, "CtrlC"),
+    CtrlD  = (4, "CtrlD"),
+    CtrlE  = (5, "CtrlE"),
+    CtrlF  = (6, "CtrlF"),
+    CtrlG  = (7, "CtrlG"),
+    CtrlH  = (8, "CtrlH"),
+    Tab    = (9, "Tab"),     # Ctrl-I
+    CtrlJ  = (10, "CtrlJ"),
+    CtrlK  = (11, "CtrlK"),
+    CtrlL  = (12, "CtrlL"),
+    Enter  = (13, "Enter"),  # Ctrl-M
+    CtrlN  = (14, "CtrlN"),
+    CtrlO  = (15, "CtrlO"),
+    CtrlP  = (16, "CtrlP"),
+    CtrlQ  = (17, "CtrlQ"),
+    CtrlR  = (18, "CtrlR"),
+    CtrlS  = (19, "CtrlS"),
+    CtrlT  = (20, "CtrlT"),
+    CtrlU  = (21, "CtrlU"),
+    CtrlV  = (22, "CtrlV"),
+    CtrlW  = (23, "CtrlW"),
+    CtrlX  = (24, "CtrlX"),
+    CtrlY  = (25, "CtrlY"),
+    CtrlZ  = (26, "CtrlZ"),
+    Escape = (27, "Escape"),
+
+    CtrlBackslash    = (28, "CtrlBackslash"),
+    CtrlRightBracket = (29, "CtrlRightBracket"),
+
+    # Printable ASCII characters
+    Space           = (32, "Space"),
+    ExclamationMark = (33, "ExclamationMark"),
+    DoubleQuote     = (34, "DoubleQuote"),
+    Hash            = (35, "Hash"),
+    Dollar          = (36, "Dollar"),
+    Percent         = (37, "Percent"),
+    Ampersand       = (38, "Ampersand"),
+    SingleQuote     = (39, "SingleQuote"),
+    LeftParen       = (40, "LeftParen"),
+    RightParen      = (41, "RightParen"),
+    Asterisk        = (42, "Asterisk"),
+    Plus            = (43, "Plus"),
+    Comma           = (44, "Comma"),
+    Minus           = (45, "Minus"),
+    Dot             = (46, "Dot"),
+    Slash           = (47, "Slash"),
+
+    Zero  = (48, "Zero"),
+    One   = (49, "One"),
+    Two   = (50, "Two"),
+    Three = (51, "Three"),
+    Four  = (52, "Four"),
+    Five  = (53, "Five"),
+    Six   = (54, "Six"),
+    Seven = (55, "Seven"),
+    Eight = (56, "Eight"),
+    Nine  = (57, "Nine"),
+
+    Colon        = (58, "Colon"),
+    Semicolon    = (59, "Semicolon"),
+    LessThan     = (60, "LessThan"),
+    Equals       = (61, "Equals"),
+    GreaterThan  = (62, "GreaterThan"),
+    QuestionMark = (63, "QuestionMark"),
+    At           = (64, "At"),
+
+    ShiftA  = (65, "ShiftA"),
+    ShiftB  = (66, "ShiftB"),
+    ShiftC  = (67, "ShiftC"),
+    ShiftD  = (68, "ShiftD"),
+    ShiftE  = (69, "ShiftE"),
+    ShiftF  = (70, "ShiftF"),
+    ShiftG  = (71, "ShiftG"),
+    ShiftH  = (72, "ShiftH"),
+    ShiftI  = (73, "ShiftI"),
+    ShiftJ  = (74, "ShiftJ"),
+    ShiftK  = (75, "ShiftK"),
+    ShiftL  = (76, "ShiftL"),
+    ShiftM  = (77, "ShiftM"),
+    ShiftN  = (78, "ShiftN"),
+    ShiftO  = (79, "ShiftO"),
+    ShiftP  = (80, "ShiftP"),
+    ShiftQ  = (81, "ShiftQ"),
+    ShiftR  = (82, "ShiftR"),
+    ShiftS  = (83, "ShiftS"),
+    ShiftT  = (84, "ShiftT"),
+    ShiftU  = (85, "ShiftU"),
+    ShiftV  = (86, "ShiftV"),
+    ShiftW  = (87, "ShiftW"),
+    ShiftX  = (88, "ShiftX"),
+    ShiftY  = (89, "ShiftY"),
+    ShiftZ  = (90, "ShiftZ"),
+
+    LeftBracket  = (91, "LeftBracket"),
+    Backslash    = (92, "Backslash"),
+    RightBracket = (93, "RightBracket"),
+    Caret        = (94, "Caret"),
+    Underscore   = (95, "Underscore"),
+    GraveAccent  = (96, "GraveAccent"),
+
+    A = (97, "A"),
+    B = (98, "B"),
+    C = (99, "C"),
+    D = (100, "D"),
+    E = (101, "E"),
+    F = (102, "F"),
+    G = (103, "G"),
+    H = (104, "H"),
+    I = (105, "I"),
+    J = (106, "J"),
+    K = (107, "K"),
+    L = (108, "L"),
+    M = (109, "M"),
+    N = (110, "N"),
+    O = (111, "O"),
+    P = (112, "P"),
+    Q = (113, "Q"),
+    R = (114, "R"),
+    S = (115, "S"),
+    T = (116, "T"),
+    U = (117, "U"),
+    V = (118, "V"),
+    W = (119, "W"),
+    X = (120, "X"),
+    Y = (121, "Y"),
+    Z = (122, "Z"),
+
+    LeftBrace  = (123, "LeftBrace"),
+    Pipe       = (124, "Pipe"),
+    RightBrace = (125, "RightBrace"),
+    Tilde      = (126, "Tilde"),
+    Backspace  = (127, "Backspace"),
+
+    # Special characters with virtual keycodes
+    Up       = (1001, "Up"),
+    Down     = (1002, "Down"),
+    Right    = (1003, "Right"),
+    Left     = (1004, "Left"),
+    Home     = (1005, "Home"),
+    Insert   = (1006, "Insert"),
+    Delete   = (1007, "Delete"),
+    End      = (1008, "End"),
+    PageUp   = (1009, "PageUp"),
+    PageDown = (1010, "PageDown"),
+
+    F1  = (1011, "F1"),
+    F2  = (1012, "F2"),
+    F3  = (1013, "F3"),
+    F4  = (1014, "F4"),
+    F5  = (1015, "F5"),
+    F6  = (1016, "F6"),
+    F7  = (1017, "F7"),
+    F8  = (1018, "F8"),
+    F9  = (1019, "F9"),
+    F10 = (1020, "F10"),
+    F11 = (1021, "F11"),
+    F12 = (1022, "F12"),
+
+    Mouse = (5000, "Mouse")
+
+  IllwillError* = object of CatchableError
+
+type
+  MouseButtonAction* {.pure.} = enum
+    mbaNone, mbaPressed, mbaReleased
+
+  MouseInfo* = object
+    x*:         int                ## X mouse position
+    y*:         int                ## Y mouse position
+    button*:    MouseButton        ## which button was pressed
+    action*:    MouseButtonAction  ## if button was released or pressed
+    ctrl*:      bool               ## was Ctrl down
+    shift*:     bool               ## was Shift down
+    scroll*:    bool               ## if this is a mouse scroll event
+    scrollDir*: ScrollDirection    ## scroll direction
+    move*:      bool               ## if this is a mouse move event
+
+  MouseButton* {.pure.} = enum
+    mbNone, mbLeft, mbMiddle, mbRight
+
+  ScrollDirection* {.pure.} = enum
+    sdNone, sdUp, sdDown
+
+var
+  gMouseInfo = MouseInfo()
+  gMouse: bool = false
+
+proc getMouse*(): MouseInfo =
+  ## When the library is initialised with `illwillInit(mouse=true)`, mouse
+  ## events are captured and can be retrieved by calling this function.
+  ##
+  ## See `MouseInfo` for further details.
+  ##
+  ## Example:
+  ##
+  ## .. code-block::
+  ##
+  ##  import illwill, os
+  ##
+  ##  proc exitProc() {.noconv.} =
+  ##    illwillDeinit()
+  ##    showCursor()
+  ##    quit(0)
+  ##
+  ##  setControlCHook(exitProc)
+  ##  illwillInit(mouse=true)
+  ##
+  ##  var tb = newTerminalBuffer(terminalWidth(), terminalHeight())
+  ##
+  ##  while true:
+  ##    var key = getKey()
+  ##    if key == Key.Mouse:
+  ##      echo getMouse()
+  ##    tb.display()
+  ##    sleep(10)
+
+  return gMouseInfo
+
+
+{.push warning[HoleEnumConv]:off.}
+
+func toKey(c: int): Key =
+  try:
+    result = Key(c)
+  except RangeDefect:  # ignore unknown keycodes
+    result = Key.None
+
+{.pop}
+
+
+var gIllwillInitialised = false
+var gFullScreen = false
+var gFullRedrawNextFrame = false
+
+when defined(windows):
+  import encodings, winlean
+
+  proc getConsoleMode(hConsoleHandle: Handle, dwMode: ptr DWORD): WINBOOL {.
+      stdcall, dynlib: "kernel32", importc: "GetConsoleMode".}
+
+  proc setConsoleMode(hConsoleHandle: Handle, dwMode: DWORD): WINBOOL {.
+      stdcall, dynlib: "kernel32", importc: "SetConsoleMode".}
+
+  # Mouse
+  const
+    INPUT_BUFFER_LEN = 512
+
+  const
+    ENABLE_MOUSE_INPUT = 0x10
+    ENABLE_WINDOW_INPUT = 0x8
+    ENABLE_QUICK_EDIT_MODE = 0x40
+    ENABLE_EXTENDED_FLAGS = 0x80
+    MOUSE_EVENT = 0x0002
+
+  const
+    FROM_LEFT_1ST_BUTTON_PRESSED = 0x0001
+    FROM_LEFT_2ND_BUTTON_PRESSED = 0x0004
+    RIGHTMOST_BUTTON_PRESSED = 0x0002
+
+  const
+    LEFT_CTRL_PRESSED = 0x0008
+    RIGHT_CTRL_PRESSED = 0x0004
+    SHIFT_PRESSED = 0x0010
+
+  const
+    MOUSE_WHEELED = 0x0004
+
+  type
+    WCHAR = WinChar
+    CHAR = char
+    BOOL = WINBOOL
+    WORD = uint16
+    UINT = cint
+    SHORT = int16
+
+  # Windows console input structuress
+  type
+    KEY_EVENT_RECORD_UNION* {.bycopy, union.} = object
+      UnicodeChar*: WCHAR
+      AsciiChar*: CHAR
+
+    INPUT_RECORD_UNION* {.bycopy, union.} = object
+      KeyEvent*: KEY_EVENT_RECORD
+      MouseEvent*: MOUSE_EVENT_RECORD
+      WindowBufferSizeEvent*: WINDOW_BUFFER_SIZE_RECORD
+      MenuEvent*: MENU_EVENT_RECORD
+      FocusEvent*: FOCUS_EVENT_RECORD
+
+    COORD* {.bycopy.} = object
+      X*: SHORT
+      Y*: SHORT
+
+    PCOORD* = ptr COORD
+    FOCUS_EVENT_RECORD* {.bycopy.} = object
+      bSetFocus*: BOOL
+
+    MENU_EVENT_RECORD* {.bycopy.} = object
+      dwCommandId*: UINT
+
+    PMENU_EVENT_RECORD* = ptr MENU_EVENT_RECORD
+    MOUSE_EVENT_RECORD* {.bycopy.} = object
+      dwMousePosition*: COORD
+      dwButtonState*: DWORD
+      dwControlKeyState*: DWORD
+      dwEventFlags*: DWORD
+
+    WINDOW_BUFFER_SIZE_RECORD* {.bycopy.} = object
+      dwSize*: COORD
+
+    INPUT_RECORD* {.bycopy.} = object
+      EventType*: WORD
+      Event*: INPUT_RECORD_UNION
+
+  type
+    PINPUT_RECORD = ptr array[INPUT_BUFFER_LEN, INPUT_RECORD]
+    LPDWORD = PDWORD
+
+  proc peekConsoleInputA(hConsoleInput: HANDLE, lpBuffer: PINPUT_RECORD,
+                         nLength: DWORD, lpNumberOfEventsRead: LPDWORD): WINBOOL
+    {.stdcall, dynlib: "kernel32", importc: "PeekConsoleInputA".}
+
+  const
+    ENABLE_WRAP_AT_EOL_OUTPUT   = 0x0002
+
+  var gOldConsoleModeInput: DWORD
+  var gOldConsoleMode: DWORD
+
+  proc consoleInit() =
+    discard getConsoleMode(getStdHandle(STD_INPUT_HANDLE), gOldConsoleModeInput.addr)
+    if gFullScreen:
+      if getConsoleMode(getStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), gOldConsoleMode.addr) != 0:
+        var mode = gOldConsoleMode and (not ENABLE_WRAP_AT_EOL_OUTPUT)
+        discard setConsoleMode(getStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), mode)
+    else:
+      discard getConsoleMode(getStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), gOldConsoleMode.addr)
+
+  proc consoleDeinit() =
+    if gOldConsoleMode != 0:
+      discard setConsoleMode(getStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), gOldConsoleMode)
+
+  proc getchTimeout(ms: int32): KEY_EVENT_RECORD =
+    let fd = getStdHandle(STD_INPUT_HANDLE)
+    var keyEvent = KEY_EVENT_RECORD()
+    var numRead: cint
+    while true:
+      case waitForSingleObject(fd, ms)
+      of WAIT_TIMEOUT:
+        keyEvent.eventType = -1
+        return
+      of WAIT_OBJECT_0:
+        doAssert(readConsoleInput(fd, addr(keyEvent), 1, addr(numRead)) != 0)
+        if numRead == 0 or keyEvent.eventType != 1 or keyEvent.bKeyDown == 0:
+          continue
+        return keyEvent
+      else:
+        doAssert(false)
+
+  proc getKeyAsync(ms: int): Key =
+    let event = getchTimeout(int32(ms))
+
+    if event.eventType == -1:
+      return Key.None
+
+    if event.uChar != 0:
+      return toKey((event.uChar))
+    else:
+      case event.wVirtualScanCode
+      of  8: return Key.Backspace
+      of  9: return Key.Tab
+      of 13: return Key.Enter
+      of 32: return Key.Space
+      of 59: return Key.F1
+      of 60: return Key.F2
+      of 61: return Key.F3
+      of 62: return Key.F4
+      of 63: return Key.F5
+      of 64: return Key.F6
+      of 65: return Key.F7
+      of 66: return Key.F8
+      of 67: return Key.F9
+      of 68: return Key.F10
+      of 71: return Key.Home
+      of 72: return Key.Up
+      of 73: return Key.PageUp
+      of 75: return Key.Left
+      of 77: return Key.Right
+      of 79: return Key.End
+      of 80: return Key.Down
+      of 81: return Key.PageDown
+      of 82: return Key.Insert
+      of 83: return Key.Delete
+      of 87: return Key.F11
+      of 88: return Key.F12
+      else:  return Key.None
+
+  proc writeConsole(hConsoleOutput: HANDLE, lpBuffer: pointer,
+                    nNumberOfCharsToWrite: DWORD,
+                    lpNumberOfCharsWritten: ptr DWORD,
+                    lpReserved: pointer): WINBOOL {.
+    stdcall, dynlib: "kernel32", importc: "WriteConsoleW".}
+
+  var hStdout = getStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE)
+  var utf16LEConverter = open(destEncoding = "utf-16", srcEncoding = "UTF-8")
+
+  proc put(s: string) =
+    var us = utf16LEConverter.convert(s)
+    var numWritten: DWORD
+    discard writeConsole(hStdout, pointer(us[0].addr), DWORD(s.runeLen),
+                         numWritten.addr, nil)
+
+else:  # OS X & Linux
+  import posix, tables, termios
+  import strutils, strformat
+
+  proc consoleInit()
+  proc consoleDeinit()
+
+  # References:
+  # https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI-Escapesequenz
+  # https://invisible-island.net/xterm/ctlseqs/ctlseqs.html#h3-Extended-coordinates
+  const
+    CSI = 0x1B.chr & 0x5B.chr
+    SET_BTN_EVENT_MOUSE = "1002"
+    SET_ANY_EVENT_MOUSE = "1003"
+    SET_SGR_EXT_MODE_MOUSE = "1006"
+    # SET_URXVT_EXT_MODE_MOUSE = "1015"
+    ENABLE = "h"
+    DISABLE = "l"
+    MouseTrackAny = fmt"{CSI}?{SET_BTN_EVENT_MOUSE}{ENABLE}{CSI}?{SET_ANY_EVENT_MOUSE}{ENABLE}{CSI}?{SET_SGR_EXT_MODE_MOUSE}{ENABLE}"
+    DisableMouseTrackAny = fmt"{CSI}?{SET_BTN_EVENT_MOUSE}{DISABLE}{CSI}?{SET_ANY_EVENT_MOUSE}{DISABLE}{CSI}?{SET_SGR_EXT_MODE_MOUSE}{DISABLE}"
+    KEYS_D = [Key.Up, Key.Down, Key.Right, Key.Left, Key.None, Key.End, Key.None, Key.Home]
+    KEYS_E = [Key.Delete, Key.End, Key.PageUp, Key.PageDown, Key.Home, Key.End]
+    KEYS_F = [Key.F1, Key.F2, Key.F3, Key.F4, Key.F5, Key.None, Key.F6, Key.F7, Key.F8]
+    KEYS_G = [Key.F9, Key.F10, Key.None, Key.F11, Key.F12]
+
+  # Adapted from:
+  # https://ftp.gnu.org/old-gnu/Manuals/glibc-2.2.3/html_chapter/libc_24.html#SEC499
+  proc SIGTSTP_handler(sig: cint) {.noconv.} =
+    signal(SIGTSTP, SIG_DFL)
+    # XXX why don't the below 3 lines seem to have any effect?
+    resetAttributes()
+    showCursor()
+    consoleDeinit()
+    discard posix.raise(SIGTSTP)
+
+  proc SIGCONT_handler(sig: cint) {.noconv.} =
+    signal(SIGCONT, SIGCONT_handler)
+    signal(SIGTSTP, SIGTSTP_handler)
+
+    gFullRedrawNextFrame = true
+    consoleInit()
+    hideCursor()
+
+  proc installSignalHandlers() =
+    signal(SIGCONT, SIGCONT_handler)
+    signal(SIGTSTP, SIGTSTP_handler)
+
+  proc nonblock(enabled: bool) =
+    var ttyState: Termios
+
+    # get the terminal state
+    discard tcGetAttr(STDIN_FILENO, ttyState.addr)
+
+    if enabled:
+      # turn off canonical mode & echo
+      ttyState.c_lflag = ttyState.c_lflag and not Cflag(ICANON or ECHO)
+
+      # minimum of number input read
+      ttyState.c_cc[VMIN] = 0.char
+
+    else:
+      # turn on canonical mode & echo
+      ttyState.c_lflag = ttyState.c_lflag or ICANON or ECHO
+
+    # set the terminal attributes.
+    discard tcSetAttr(STDIN_FILENO, TCSANOW, ttyState.addr)
+
+  proc kbhit(ms: int): cint =
+    var tv: Timeval
+    tv.tv_sec = Time(ms div 1000)
+    tv.tv_usec = 1000 * (int32(ms) mod 1000) # int32 because of macos
+
+    var fds: TFdSet
+    FD_ZERO(fds)
+    FD_SET(STDIN_FILENO, fds)
+    discard select(STDIN_FILENO+1, fds.addr, nil, nil, tv.addr)
+    return FD_ISSET(STDIN_FILENO, fds)
+
+  proc consoleInit() =
+    nonblock(true)
+    installSignalHandlers()
+
+  proc consoleDeinit() =
+    nonblock(false)
+
+  # surely a 100 char buffer is more than enough; the longest
+  # keycode sequence I've seen was 6 chars
+  const KeySequenceMaxLen = 100
+
+  # global keycode buffer
+  var keyBuf {.threadvar.}: array[KeySequenceMaxLen, int]
+
+  proc splitInputs(inp: openarray[int], max: Natural): seq[seq[int]] =
+    ## splits the input buffer to extract mouse coordinates
+    var parts: seq[seq[int]] = @[]
+    var cur: seq[int] = @[]
+    for ch in inp[CSI.len+1 .. max-1]:
+      if ch == ord('M'):
+        # Button press
+        parts.add(cur)
+        gMouseInfo.action = mbaPressed
+        break
+      elif ch == ord('m'):
+        # Button release
+        parts.add(cur)
+        gMouseInfo.action = mbaReleased
+        break
+      elif ch != ord(';'):
+        cur.add(ch)
+      else:
+        parts.add(cur)
+        cur = @[]
+    return parts
+
+  proc getPos(inp: seq[int]): int =
+    var str = ""
+    for ch in inp:
+      str &= $(ch.chr)
+    result = parseInt(str)
+
+  proc fillGlobalMouseInfo(keyBuf: array[KeySequenceMaxLen, int]) =
+    let parts = splitInputs(keyBuf, keyBuf.len)
+    gMouseInfo.x = parts[1].getPos() - 1
+    gMouseInfo.y = parts[2].getPos() - 1
+
+    let bitset = parts[0].getPos()
+    gMouseInfo.ctrl = bitset.testBit(4)
+    gMouseInfo.shift = bitset.testBit(2)
+    gMouseInfo.move = bitset.testBit(5)
+
+    case ((bitset.uint8 shl 6) shr 6).int
+    of 0: gMouseInfo.button = MouseButton.mbLeft
+    of 1: gMouseInfo.button = MouseButton.mbMiddle
+    of 2: gMouseInfo.button = MouseButton.mbRight
+    else:
+      gMouseInfo.action = MouseButtonAction.mbaNone
+      # Move sends 3, but we ignore
+      gMouseInfo.button = MouseButton.mbNone
+
+    gMouseInfo.scroll = bitset.testBit(6)
+
+    if gMouseInfo.scroll:
+      # On scroll button=3 is reported, but we want no button pressed
+      gMouseInfo.button = MouseButton.mbNone
+      if bitset.testBit(0): gMouseInfo.scrollDir = ScrollDirection.sdDown
+      else: gMouseInfo.scrollDir = ScrollDirection.sdUp
+    else:
+      gMouseInfo.scrollDir = ScrollDirection.sdNone
+
+  proc parseStdin[T](input: T): Key =
+    var ch1, ch2, ch3, ch4, ch5: char
+    result = Key.None
+    if read(input, ch1.addr, 1) > 0:
+      case ch1
+      of '\e':
+        if read(input, ch2.addr, 1) > 0:
+          if ch2 == 'O' and read(input, ch3.addr, 1) > 0:
+            if ch3 in "ABCDFH":
+              result = KEYS_D[int(ch3) - int('A')]
+            elif ch3 in "PQRS":
+              result = KEYS_F[int(ch3) - int('P')]
+          elif ch2 == '[' and read(input, ch3.addr, 1) > 0:
+            if ch3 in "ABCDFH":
+              result = KEYS_D[int(ch3) - int('A')]
+            elif ch3 in "PQRS":
+              result = KEYS_F[int(ch3) - int('P')]
+            elif ch3 == '1' and read(input, ch4.addr, 1) > 0:
+              if ch4 == '~':
+                result = Key.Home
+              elif ch4 in "12345789" and read(input, ch5.addr, 1) > 0 and ch5 == '~':
+                result = KEYS_F[int(ch4) - int('1')]
+            elif ch3 == '2' and read(input, ch4.addr, 1) > 0:
+              if ch4 == '~':
+                result = Key.Insert
+              elif ch4 in "0134" and read(input, ch5.addr, 1) > 0 and ch5 == '~':
+                result = KEYS_G[int(ch4) - int('0')]
+            elif ch3 in "345678" and read(input, ch4.addr, 1) > 0 and ch4 == '~':
+              result = KEYS_E[int(ch3) - int('3')]
+            else:
+              discard   # if cannot parse full seq it is discarded
+          else:
+            discard     # if cannot parse full seq it is discarded
+        else:
+          result = Key.Escape
+      of '\n':
+        result = Key.Enter
+      of '\b':
+        result = Key.Backspace
+      else:
+        result = toKey(int(ch1))
+
+  proc getKeyAsync(ms: int): Key =
+    result = Key.None
+    if kbhit(ms) > 0:
+      result = parseStdin(cint(STDIN_FILENO))
+
+  template put(s: string) = stdout.write s
+
+when defined(posix):
+  const
+    XtermColor    = "xterm-color"
+    Xterm256Color = "xterm-256color"
+
+proc enterFullScreen() =
+  ## Enters full-screen mode (clears the terminal).
+  when defined(posix):
+    case getEnv("TERM"):
+    of XtermColor:
+      stdout.write "\e7\e[?47h"
+    of Xterm256Color:
+      stdout.write "\e[?1049h"
+    else:
+      eraseScreen()
+  else:
+    eraseScreen()
+
+proc exitFullScreen() =
+  ## Exits full-screen mode (restores the previous contents of the terminal).
+  when defined(posix):
+    case getEnv("TERM"):
+    of XtermColor:
+      stdout.write "\e[2J\e[?47l\e8"
+    of Xterm256Color:
+      stdout.write "\e[?1049l"
+    else:
+      eraseScreen()
+  else:
+    eraseScreen()
+    setCursorPos(0, 0)
+
+when defined(posix):
+  proc enableMouse() =
+    stdout.write(MouseTrackAny)
+    stdout.flushFile()
+
+  proc disableMouse() =
+    stdout.write(DisableMouseTrackAny)
+    stdout.flushFile()
+else:
+  proc enableMouse(hConsoleInput: Handle) =
+    var currentMode: DWORD
+    discard getConsoleMode(hConsoleInput, currentMode.addr)
+    discard setConsoleMode(hConsoleInput,
+      ENABLE_WINDOW_INPUT or ENABLE_MOUSE_INPUT or ENABLE_EXTENDED_FLAGS or
+      (currentMode and ENABLE_QUICK_EDIT_MODE.bitnot())
+    )
+
+  proc disableMouse(hConsoleInput: Handle, oldConsoleMode: DWORD) =
+    # TODO remove mouse option only?
+    discard setConsoleMode(hConsoleInput, oldConsoleMode)
+
+proc illwillInit*(fullScreen: bool=true, mouse: bool=false) =
+  ## Initializes the terminal and enables non-blocking keyboard input. Needs
+  ## to be called before doing anything with the library.
+  ##
+  ## If `mouse` is set to `true`, mouse events are captured and can be
+  ## retrieved with `getMouse()`.
+  ##
+  ## If the module is already intialised, `IllwillError` is raised.
+  if gIllwillInitialised:
+    raise newException(IllwillError, "Illwill already initialised")
+  gFullScreen = fullScreen
+  if gFullScreen: enterFullScreen()
+
+  consoleInit()
+  gMouse = mouse
+  if gMouse:
+    when defined(posix):
+      enableMouse()
+    else:
+      enableMouse(getStdHandle(STD_INPUT_HANDLE))
+  gIllwillInitialised = true
+  resetAttributes()
+
+proc checkInit() =
+  if not gIllwillInitialised:
+    raise newException(IllwillError, "Illwill not initialised")
+
+proc illwillDeinit*() =
+  ## Resets the terminal to its previous state. Needs to be called before
+  ## exiting the application.
+  ##
+  ## If the module is not intialised, `IllwillError` is raised.
+  checkInit()
+  if gFullScreen: exitFullScreen()
+  if gMouse:
+    when defined(posix):
+      disableMouse()
+    else:
+      disableMouse(getStdHandle(STD_INPUT_HANDLE), gOldConsoleModeInput)
+  consoleDeinit()
+  gIllwillInitialised = false
+  resetAttributes()
+  showCursor()
+
+when defined(windows):
+
+  template alias(newName: untyped, call: untyped) =
+    template newName(): untyped = call
+
+  var gLastMouseInfo = MouseInfo()
+
+  proc fillGlobalMouseInfo(inputRecord: INPUT_RECORD) =
+    alias(me, inputRecord.Event.MouseEvent)
+
+    gMouseInfo.x = me.dwMousePosition.X
+    gMouseInfo.y = me.dwMousePosition.Y
+
+    case me.dwButtonState
+    of FROM_LEFT_1ST_BUTTON_PRESSED: gMouseInfo.button = mbLeft
+    of FROM_LEFT_2ND_BUTTON_PRESSED: gMouseInfo.button = mbMiddle
+    of RIGHTMOST_BUTTON_PRESSED:     gMouseInfo.button = mbRight
+    else:                            gMouseInfo.button = mbNone
+
+    if gMouseInfo.button != mbNone:
+      gMouseInfo.action = MouseButtonAction.mbaPressed
+    elif gMouseInfo.button == mbNone and gLastMouseInfo.button != mbNone:
+      gMouseInfo.action = MouseButtonAction.mbaReleased
+    else:
+      gMouseInfo.action = MouseButtonAction.mbaNone
+
+    if gLastMouseInfo.x != gMouseInfo.x or gLastMouseInfo.y != gMouseInfo.y:
+      gMouseInfo.move = true
+    else:
+      gMouseInfo.move = false
+
+    if bitand(me.dwEventFlags, MOUSE_WHEELED) == MOUSE_WHEELED:
+      gMouseInfo.scroll = true
+      if me.dwButtonState.testBit(31):
+        gMouseInfo.scrollDir = ScrollDirection.sdDown
+      else:
+        gMouseInfo.scrollDir = ScrollDirection.sdUp
+    else:
+      gMouseInfo.scroll = false
+      gMouseInfo.scrollDir = ScrollDirection.sdNone
+
+    gMouseInfo.ctrl = (
+        bitand(me.dwControlKeyState, LEFT_CTRL_PRESSED) == LEFT_CTRL_PRESSED or
+        bitand(me.dwControlKeyState, RIGHT_CTRL_PRESSED) == RIGHT_CTRL_PRESSED
+    )
+
+    gMouseInfo.shift = bitand(me.dwControlKeyState, SHIFT_PRESSED) == SHIFT_PRESSED
+
+    gLastMouseInfo = gMouseInfo
+
+
+  proc hasMouseInput(): bool =
+    var buffer: array[INPUT_BUFFER_LEN, INPUT_RECORD]
+    var numberOfEventsRead: DWORD
+    var toRead: int = 0
+
+    discard peekConsoleInputA(getStdHandle(STD_INPUT_HANDLE), buffer.addr,
+                              buffer.len.DWORD, numberOfEventsRead.addr)
+
+    if numberOfEventsRead == 0: return false
+
+    for inputRecord in buffer[0..<numberOfEventsRead.int]:
+      toRead.inc()
+      if inputRecord.EventType == MOUSE_EVENT:
+        break
+
+    if toRead == 0: return false
+
+    discard readConsoleInput(getStdHandle(STD_INPUT_HANDLE), buffer.addr,
+                             toRead.DWORD, numberOfEventsRead.addr)
+
+    if buffer[numberOfEventsRead - 1].EventType == MOUSE_EVENT:
+      fillGlobalMouseInfo(buffer[numberOfEventsRead - 1])
+      return true
+    else:
+      return false
+
+proc getKey*(): Key =
+  ## Reads the next keystroke in a non-blocking manner. If there are no
+  ## keypress events in the buffer, `Key.None` is returned.
+  ##
+  ## If a mouse event was captured, `Key.Mouse` is returned. Call `getMouse()`
+  ## to get the details about the event.
+  ##
+  ## If the module is not intialised, `IllwillError` is raised.
+  checkInit()
+  result = getKeyAsync(0)
+  when defined(windows):
+    if result == Key.None:
+      if hasMouseInput():
+        return Key.Mouse
+
+proc getKeyWithTimeout*(ms = 1000): Key =
+  ## Reads the next keystroke with a timeout. If there were no keypress events
+  ## in the specified `ms` period, `Key.None` is returned.
+  ##
+  ## If a mouse event was captured, `Key.Mouse` is returned. Call `getMouse()`
+  ## to get the details about the event.
+  ##
+  ## If the module is not intialised, `IllwillError` is raised.
+  checkInit()
+  result = getKeyAsync(ms)
+  when defined(windows):
+    if result == Key.None:
+      if hasMouseInput():
+        return Key.Mouse
+
+type
+  TerminalChar* = object
+    ## Represents a character in the terminal buffer, including color and
+    ## style information.
+    ##
+    ## If `forceWrite` is set to `true`, the character is always output even
+    ## when double buffering is enabled (this is a hack to achieve better
+    ## continuity of horizontal lines when using UTF-8 box drawing symbols in
+    ## the Windows Console).
+    ch*: Rune
+    fg*: ForegroundColor
+    bg*: BackgroundColor
+    style*: set[Style]
+    forceWrite*: bool
+
+  TerminalBuffer* = ref object
+    ## A virtual terminal buffer of a fixed width and height. It remembers the
+    ## current color and style settings and the current cursor position.
+    ##
+    ## Write to the terminal buffer with `TerminalBuffer.write()` or access
+    ## the character buffer directly with the index operators.
+    ##
+    ## Example:
+    ##
+    ## .. code-block::
+    ##   import illwill, unicode
+    ##
+    ##   # Initialise the console in non-fullscreen mode
+    ##   illwillInit(fullscreen=false)
+    ##
+    ##   # Create a new terminal buffer
+    ##   var tb = newTerminalBuffer(terminalWidth(), terminalHeight())
+    ##
+    ##   # Write the character "X" at position (5,5) then read it back
+    ##   tb[5,5] = TerminalChar(ch: "X".runeAt(0), fg: fgYellow, bg: bgNone, style: {})
+    ##   let ch = tb[5,5]
+    ##
+    ##   # Write "foo" at position (10,10) in bright red
+    ##   tb.setForegroundColor(fgRed, bright=true)
+    ##   tb.setCursorPos(10, 10)
+    ##   tb.write("foo")
+    ##
+    ##   # Write "bar" at position (15,12) in bright red, without changing
+    ##   # the current cursor position
+    ##   tb.write(15, 12, "bar")
+    ##
+    ##   tb.write(0, 20, "Normal ", fgYellow, "ESC", fgWhite,
+    ##                   " or ", fgYellow, "Q", fgWhite, " to quit")
+    ##
+    ##   # Output the contents of the buffer to the terminal
+    ##   tb.display()
+    ##
+    ##   # Clean up
+    ##   illwillDeinit()
+    ##
+    width: int
+    height: int
+    buf: seq[TerminalChar]
+    currBg: BackgroundColor
+    currFg: ForegroundColor
+    currStyle: set[Style]
+    currX: Natural
+    currY: Natural
+
+proc `[]=`*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, x, y: Natural, ch: TerminalChar) =
+  ## Index operator to write a character into the terminal buffer at the
+  ## specified location. Does nothing if the location is outside of the
+  ## extents of the terminal buffer.
+  if x < tb.width and y < tb.height:
+    tb.buf[tb.width * y + x] = ch
+
+proc `[]`*(tb: TerminalBuffer, x, y: Natural): TerminalChar =
+  ## Index operator to read a character from the terminal buffer at the
+  ## specified location. Returns nil if the location is outside of the extents
+  ## of the terminal buffer.
+  if x < tb.width and y < tb.height:
+    result = tb.buf[tb.width * y + x]
+
+
+proc fill*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, x1, y1, x2, y2: Natural, ch: string = " ") =
+  ## Fills a rectangular area with the `ch` character using the current text
+  ## attributes. The rectangle is clipped to the extends of the terminal
+  ## buffer and the call can never fail.
+  if x1 < tb.width and y1 < tb.height:
+    let
+      c = TerminalChar(ch: ch.runeAt(0), fg: tb.currFg, bg: tb.currBg,
+                       style: tb.currStyle)
+
+      xe = min(x2, tb.width-1)
+      ye = min(y2, tb.height-1)
+
+    for y in y1..ye:
+      for x in x1..xe:
+        tb[x, y] = c
+
+proc clear*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, ch: string = " ") =
+  ## Clears the contents of the terminal buffer with the `ch` character using
+  ## the `fgNone` and `bgNone` attributes.
+  tb.fill(0, 0, tb.width-1, tb.height-1, ch)
+
+proc initTerminalBuffer(tb: var TerminalBuffer, width, height: Natural) =
+  ## Initializes a new terminal buffer object of a fixed `width` and `height`.
+  tb.width = width
+  tb.height = height
+  newSeq(tb.buf, width * height)
+  tb.currBg = bgNone
+  tb.currFg = fgNone
+  tb.currStyle = {}
+
+proc newTerminalBuffer*(width, height: Natural): TerminalBuffer =
+  ## Creates a new terminal buffer of a fixed `width` and `height`.
+  var tb = new TerminalBuffer
+  tb.initTerminalBuffer(width, height)
+  tb.clear()
+  result = tb
+
+func width*(tb: TerminalBuffer): Natural =
+  ## Returns the width of the terminal buffer.
+  result = tb.width
+
+func height*(tb: TerminalBuffer): Natural =
+  ## Returns the height of the terminal buffer.
+  result = tb.height
+
+
+proc copyFrom*(tb: var TerminalBuffer,
+               src: TerminalBuffer, srcX, srcY, width, height: Natural,
+               destX, destY: Natural; transparency=false) =
+  ## Copies the contents of the `src` terminal buffer into this one.
+  ## A rectangular area of dimension `width` and `height` is copied from
+  ## the position `srcX` and `srcY` in the source buffer to the position
+  ## `destX` and `destY` in this buffer.
+  ##
+  ## If the extents of the area to be copied lie outside the extents of the
+  ## buffers, the copied area will be clipped to the available area (in other
+  ## words, the call can never fail; in the worst case it just copies
+  ## nothing).
+  ##
+  ## If `transparency` is `true`, white-space characters in the source buffer
+  ## will not overwrite the contents of the target buffer (they're treated as
+  ## transparent).
+  let
+    srcWidth = max(src.width - srcX, 0)
+    srcHeight = max(src.height - srcY, 0)
+    destWidth = max(tb.width - destX, 0)
+    destHeight = max(tb.height - destY, 0)
+    w = min(min(srcWidth, destWidth), width)
+    h = min(min(srcHeight, destHeight), height)
+
+  for yOffs in 0..<h:
+    for xOffs in 0..<w:
+      let tc = src[xOffs + srcX, yOffs + srcY]
+      if (not transparency) or (not tc.ch.isWhiteSpace):
+        tb[xOffs + destX, yOffs + destY] = tc
+
+
+proc copyFrom*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, src: TerminalBuffer, transparency=false) =
+  ## Copies the full contents of the `src` terminal buffer into this one.
+  ##
+  ## If the extents of the source buffer is greater than the extents of the
+  ## destination buffer, the copied area is clipped to the destination area.
+  ##
+  ## If `transparency` is `true`, white-space characters in the source buffer
+  ## will not overwrite the contents of the target buffer (they're treated as
+  ## transparent).
+  tb.copyFrom(src, 0, 0, src.width, src.height, 0, 0, transparency)
+
+proc newTerminalBufferFrom*(src: TerminalBuffer): TerminalBuffer =
+  ## Creates a new terminal buffer with the dimensions of the `src` buffer and
+  ## copies its contents into the new buffer.
+  var tb = new TerminalBuffer
+  tb.initTerminalBuffer(src.width, src.height)
+  tb.copyFrom(src)
+  result = tb
+
+proc setCursorPos*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, x, y: Natural) =
+  ## Sets the current cursor position.
+  tb.currX = x
+  tb.currY = y
+
+proc setCursorXPos*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, x: Natural) =
+  ## Sets the current X cursor position.
+  tb.currX = x
+
+proc setCursorYPos*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, y: Natural) =
+  ## Sets the current Y cursor position.
+  tb.currY = y
+
+proc setBackgroundColor*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, bg: BackgroundColor) =
+  ## Sets the current background color.
+  tb.currBg = bg
+
+proc setForegroundColor*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, fg: ForegroundColor,
+                         bright: bool = false) =
+  ## Sets the current foreground color and the bright style flag.
+  if bright:
+    incl(tb.currStyle, styleBright)
+  else:
+    excl(tb.currStyle, styleBright)
+  tb.currFg = fg
+
+proc setStyle*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, style: set[Style]) =
+  ## Sets the current style flags.
+  tb.currStyle = style
+
+func getCursorPos*(tb: TerminalBuffer): tuple[x: Natural, y: Natural] =
+  ## Returns the current cursor position.
+  result = (tb.currX, tb.currY)
+
+func getCursorXPos*(tb: TerminalBuffer): Natural =
+  ## Returns the current X cursor position.
+  result = tb.currX
+
+func getCursorYPos*(tb: TerminalBuffer): Natural =
+  ## Returns the current Y cursor position.
+  result = tb.currY
+
+func getBackgroundColor*(tb: var TerminalBuffer): BackgroundColor =
+  ## Returns the current background color.
+  result = tb.currBg
+
+func getForegroundColor*(tb: var TerminalBuffer): ForegroundColor =
+  ## Returns the current foreground color.
+  result = tb.currFg
+
+func getStyle*(tb: var TerminalBuffer): set[Style] =
+  ## Returns the current style flags.
+  result = tb.currStyle
+
+proc resetAttributes*(tb: var TerminalBuffer) =
+  ## Resets the current text attributes to `bgNone`, `fgWhite` and clears
+  ## all style flags.
+  tb.setBackgroundColor(bgNone)
+  tb.setForegroundColor(fgWhite)
+  tb.setStyle({})
+
+proc write*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, x, y: Natural, s: string) =
+  ## Writes `s` into the terminal buffer at the specified position using
+  ## the current text attributes. Lines do not wrap and attempting to write
+  ## outside the extents of the buffer will not raise an error; the output
+  ## will be just cropped to the extents of the buffer.
+  var currX = x
+  for ch in runes(s):
+    var c = TerminalChar(ch: ch, fg: tb.currFg, bg: tb.currBg,
+                         style: tb.currStyle)
+    tb[currX, y] = c
+    inc(currX)
+  tb.currX = currX
+  tb.currY = y
+
+proc write*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, s: string) =
+  ## Writes `s` into the terminal buffer at the current cursor position using
+  ## the current text attributes.
+  write(tb, tb.currX, tb.currY, s)
+
+var
+  gPrevTerminalBuffer {.threadvar.}: TerminalBuffer
+  gCurrBg {.threadvar.}: BackgroundColor
+  gCurrFg {.threadvar.}: ForegroundColor
+  gCurrStyle {.threadvar.}: set[Style]
+
+proc setAttribs(c: TerminalChar) =
+  if c.bg == bgNone or c.fg == fgNone or c.style == {}:
+    resetAttributes()
+    gCurrBg = c.bg
+    gCurrFg = c.fg
+    gCurrStyle = c.style
+    if gCurrBg != bgNone:
+      setBackgroundColor(cast[terminal.BackgroundColor](gCurrBg))
+    if gCurrFg != fgNone:
+      setForegroundColor(cast[terminal.ForegroundColor](gCurrFg))
+    if gCurrStyle != {}:
+      setStyle(gCurrStyle)
+  else:
+    if c.bg != gCurrBg:
+      gCurrBg = c.bg
+      setBackgroundColor(cast[terminal.BackgroundColor](gCurrBg))
+    if c.fg != gCurrFg:
+      gCurrFg = c.fg
+      setForegroundColor(cast[terminal.ForegroundColor](gCurrFg))
+    if c.style != gCurrStyle:
+      gCurrStyle = c.style
+      setStyle(gCurrStyle)
+
+proc setPos(x, y: Natural) =
+  terminal.setCursorPos(x, y)
+
+proc setXPos(x: Natural) =
+  terminal.setCursorXPos(x)
+
+proc displayFull(tb: TerminalBuffer) =
+  var buf = ""
+
+  proc flushBuf() =
+    if buf.len > 0:
+      put buf
+      buf = ""
+
+  for y in 0..<tb.height:
+    setPos(0, y)
+    for x in 0..<tb.width:
+      let c = tb[x,y]
+      if c.bg != gCurrBg or c.fg != gCurrFg or c.style != gCurrStyle:
+        flushBuf()
+        setAttribs(c)
+      buf &= $c.ch
+    flushBuf()
+
+
+proc displayDiff(tb: TerminalBuffer) =
+  var
+    buf = ""
+    bufXPos, bufYPos: Natural
+    currXPos = -1
+    currYPos = -1
+
+  proc flushBuf() =
+    if buf.len > 0:
+      if currYPos != bufYPos:
+        currXPos = bufXPos
+        currYPos = bufYPos
+        setPos(currXPos, currYPos)
+      elif currXPos != bufXPos:
+        currXPos = bufXPos
+        setXPos(currXPos)
+      put buf
+      inc(currXPos, buf.runeLen)
+      buf = ""
+
+  for y in 0..<tb.height:
+    bufXPos = 0
+    bufYPos = y
+    for x in 0..<tb.width:
+      let c = tb[x,y]
+      if c != gPrevTerminalBuffer[x,y] or c.forceWrite:
+        if c.bg != gCurrBg or c.fg != gCurrFg or c.style != gCurrStyle:
+          flushBuf()
+          bufXPos = x
+          setAttribs(c)
+        buf &= $c.ch
+      else:
+        flushBuf()
+        bufXPos = x+1
+    flushBuf()
+
+
+var gDoubleBufferingEnabled = true
+
+proc setDoubleBuffering*(enabled: bool) =
+  ## Enables or disables double buffering (enabled by default).
+  gDoubleBufferingEnabled = enabled
+  gPrevTerminalBuffer = nil
+
+proc hasDoubleBuffering*(): bool =
+  ## Returns `true` if double buffering is enabled.
+  ##
+  ## If the module is not intialised, `IllwillError` is raised.
+  checkInit()
+  result = gDoubleBufferingEnabled
+
+proc display*(tb: TerminalBuffer) =
+  ## Outputs the contents of the terminal buffer to the actual terminal.
+  ##
+  ## If the module is not intialised, `IllwillError` is raised.
+  checkInit()
+  if not gFullRedrawNextFrame and gDoubleBufferingEnabled:
+    if gPrevTerminalBuffer == nil:
+      displayFull(tb)
+      gPrevTerminalBuffer = newTerminalBufferFrom(tb)
+    else:
+      if tb.width == gPrevTerminalBuffer.width and
+         tb.height == gPrevTerminalBuffer.height:
+        displayDiff(tb)
+        gPrevTerminalBuffer.copyFrom(tb)
+      else:
+        displayFull(tb)
+        gPrevTerminalBuffer = newTerminalBufferFrom(tb)
+    flushFile(stdout)
+  else:
+    displayFull(tb)
+    flushFile(stdout)
+    gFullRedrawNextFrame = false
+
+type BoxChar = int
+
+const
+  LEFT   = 0x01
+  RIGHT  = 0x02
+  UP     = 0x04
+  DOWN   = 0x08
+  H_DBL  = 0x10
+  V_DBL  = 0x20
+
+  HORIZ = LEFT or RIGHT
+  VERT  = UP or DOWN
+
+const gBoxCharsUnicode: array[64, string] = block:
+  var boxchars: array[64, string]
+
+  boxchars[0] = " "
+
+  boxchars[   0 or  0 or     0 or    0] = " "
+  boxchars[   0 or  0 or     0 or LEFT] = "─"
+  boxchars[   0 or  0 or RIGHT or    0] = "─"
+  boxchars[   0 or  0 or RIGHT or LEFT] = "─"
+  boxchars[   0 or UP or     0 or    0] = "│"
+  boxchars[   0 or UP or     0 or LEFT] = "┘"
+  boxchars[   0 or UP or RIGHT or    0] = "└"
+  boxchars[   0 or UP or RIGHT or LEFT] = "┴"
+  boxchars[DOWN or  0 or     0 or    0] = "│"
+  boxchars[DOWN or  0 or     0 or LEFT] = "┐"
+  boxchars[DOWN or  0 or RIGHT or    0] = "┌"
+  boxchars[DOWN or  0 or RIGHT or LEFT] = "┬"
+  boxchars[DOWN or UP or     0 or    0] = "│"
+  boxchars[DOWN or UP or     0 or LEFT] = "┤"
+  boxchars[DOWN or UP or RIGHT or    0] = "├"
+  boxchars[DOWN or UP or RIGHT or LEFT] = "┼"
+
+  boxchars[H_DBL or    0 or  0 or     0 or    0] = " "
+  boxchars[H_DBL or    0 or  0 or     0 or LEFT] = "═"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or    0 or  0 or RIGHT or    0] = "═"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or    0 or  0 or RIGHT or LEFT] = "═"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or    0 or UP or     0 or    0] = "│"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or    0 or UP or     0 or LEFT] = "╛"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or    0 or UP or RIGHT or    0] = "╘"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or    0 or UP or RIGHT or LEFT] = "╧"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or DOWN or  0 or     0 or    0] = "│"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or DOWN or  0 or     0 or LEFT] = "╕"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or DOWN or  0 or RIGHT or    0] = "╒"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or DOWN or  0 or RIGHT or LEFT] = "╤"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or DOWN or UP or     0 or    0] = "│"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or DOWN or UP or     0 or LEFT] = "╡"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or DOWN or UP or RIGHT or    0] = "╞"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or DOWN or UP or RIGHT or LEFT] = "╪"
+
+  boxchars[V_DBL or    0 or  0 or     0 or    0] = " "
+  boxchars[V_DBL or    0 or  0 or     0 or LEFT] = "─"
+  boxchars[V_DBL or    0 or  0 or RIGHT or    0] = "─"
+  boxchars[V_DBL or    0 or  0 or RIGHT or LEFT] = "─"
+  boxchars[V_DBL or    0 or UP or     0 or    0] = "║"
+  boxchars[V_DBL or    0 or UP or     0 or LEFT] = "╜"
+  boxchars[V_DBL or    0 or UP or RIGHT or    0] = "╙"
+  boxchars[V_DBL or    0 or UP or RIGHT or LEFT] = "╨"
+  boxchars[V_DBL or DOWN or  0 or     0 or    0] = "║"
+  boxchars[V_DBL or DOWN or  0 or     0 or LEFT] = "╖"
+  boxchars[V_DBL or DOWN or  0 or RIGHT or    0] = "╓"
+  boxchars[V_DBL or DOWN or  0 or RIGHT or LEFT] = "╥"
+  boxchars[V_DBL or DOWN or UP or     0 or    0] = "║"
+  boxchars[V_DBL or DOWN or UP or     0 or LEFT] = "╢"
+  boxchars[V_DBL or DOWN or UP or RIGHT or    0] = "╟"
+  boxchars[V_DBL or DOWN or UP or RIGHT or LEFT] = "╫"
+
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or    0 or  0 or     0 or    0] = " "
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or    0 or  0 or     0 or LEFT] = "═"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or    0 or  0 or RIGHT or    0] = "═"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or    0 or  0 or RIGHT or LEFT] = "═"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or    0 or UP or     0 or    0] = "║"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or    0 or UP or     0 or LEFT] = "╝"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or    0 or UP or RIGHT or    0] = "╚"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or    0 or UP or RIGHT or LEFT] = "╩"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or DOWN or  0 or     0 or    0] = "║"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or DOWN or  0 or     0 or LEFT] = "╗"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or DOWN or  0 or RIGHT or    0] = "╔"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or DOWN or  0 or RIGHT or LEFT] = "╦"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or DOWN or UP or     0 or    0] = "║"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or DOWN or UP or     0 or LEFT] = "╣"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or DOWN or UP or RIGHT or    0] = "╠"
+  boxchars[H_DBL or V_DBL or DOWN or UP or RIGHT or LEFT] = "╬"
+
+  boxchars
+
+proc toUTF8String(c: BoxChar): string = gBoxCharsUnicode[c]
+
+type BoxBuffer* = ref object
+  ## Box buffers are used to store the results of multiple consecutive box
+  ## drawing calls. The idea is that when you draw a series of lines and
+  ## rectangles into the buffer, the overlapping lines will get automatically
+  ## connected by placing the appropriate UTF-8 symbols at the corner and
+  ## junction points. The results can then be written to a terminal buffer.
+  width: Natural
+  height: Natural
+  buf: seq[BoxChar]
+
+proc newBoxBuffer*(width, height: Natural): BoxBuffer =
+  ## Creates a new box buffer of a fixed `width` and `height`.
+  result = new BoxBuffer
+  result.width = width
+  result.height = height
+  newSeq(result.buf, width * height)
+
+func width*(bb: BoxBuffer): Natural =
+  ## Returns the width of the box buffer.
+  result = bb.width
+
+func height*(bb: BoxBuffer): Natural =
+  ## Returns the height of the box buffer.
+  result = bb.height
+
+proc `[]=`(bb: var BoxBuffer, x, y: Natural, c: BoxChar) =
+  if x < bb.width and y < bb.height:
+    bb.buf[bb.width * y + x] = c
+
+func `[]`(bb: BoxBuffer, x, y: Natural): BoxChar =
+  if x < bb.width and y < bb.height:
+    result = bb.buf[bb.width * y + x]
+
+proc copyFrom*(bb: var BoxBuffer,
+               src: BoxBuffer, srcX, srcY, width, height: Natural,
+               destX, destY: Natural) =
+  ## Copies the contents of the `src` box buffer into this one.
+  ## A rectangular area of dimension `width` and `height` is copied from
+  ## the position `srcX` and `srcY` in the source buffer to the position
+  ## `destX` and `destY` in this buffer.
+  ##
+  ## If the extents of the area to be copied lie outside the extents of the
+  ## buffers, the copied area will be clipped to the available area (in other
+  ## words, the call can never fail; in the worst case it just copies
+  ## nothing).
+  let
+    srcWidth = max(src.width - srcX, 0)
+    srcHeight = max(src.height - srcY, 0)
+    destWidth = max(bb.width - destX, 0)
+    destHeight = max(bb.height - destY, 0)
+    w = min(min(srcWidth, destWidth), width)
+    h = min(min(srcHeight, destHeight), height)
+
+  for yOffs in 0..<h:
+    for xOffs in 0..<w:
+      bb[xOffs + destX, yOffs + destY] = src[xOffs + srcX, yOffs + srcY]
+
+
+proc copyFrom*(bb: var BoxBuffer, src: BoxBuffer) =
+  ## Copies the full contents of the `src` box buffer into this one.
+  ##
+  ## If the extents of the source buffer is greater than the extents of the
+  ## destination buffer, the copied area is clipped to the destination area.
+  bb.copyFrom(src, 0, 0, src.width, src.height, 0, 0)
+
+proc newBoxBufferFrom*(src: BoxBuffer): BoxBuffer =
+  ## Creates a new box buffer with the dimensions of the `src` buffer and
+  ## copies its contents into the new buffer.
+  var bb = new BoxBuffer
+  bb.copyFrom(src)
+  result = bb
+
+proc drawHorizLine*(bb: var BoxBuffer, x1, x2, y: Natural,
+                    doubleStyle: bool = false, connect: bool = true) =
+  ## Draws a horizontal line into the box buffer. Set `doubleStyle` to `true`
+  ## to draw double lines. Set `connect` to `true` to connect overlapping
+  ## lines.
+  if y >= bb.height: return
+  var xStart = x1
+  var xEnd = x2
+  if xStart > xEnd: swap(xStart, xEnd)
+  if xStart >= bb.width: return
+
+  xEnd = min(xEnd, bb.width-1)
+  if connect:
+    for x in xStart..xEnd:
+      var c = bb[x,y]
+      var h: int
+      if x == xStart:
+        h = if (c and LEFT) > 0: HORIZ else: RIGHT
+      elif x == xEnd:
+        h = if (c and RIGHT) > 0: HORIZ else: LEFT
+      else:
+        h = HORIZ
+      if doubleStyle: h = h or H_DBL
+      bb[x,y] = c or h
+  else:
+    for x in xStart..xEnd:
+      var h = HORIZ
+      if doubleStyle: h = h or H_DBL
+      bb[x,y] = h
+
+
+proc drawVertLine*(bb: var BoxBuffer, x, y1, y2: Natural,
+                   doubleStyle: bool = false, connect: bool = true) =
+  ## Draws a vertical line into the box buffer. Set `doubleStyle` to `true` to
+  ## draw double lines. Set `connect` to `true` to connect overlapping lines.
+  if x >= bb.width: return
+  var yStart = y1
+  var yEnd = y2
+  if yStart > yEnd: swap(yStart, yEnd)
+  if yStart >= bb.height: return
+
+  yEnd = min(yEnd, bb.height-1)
+  if connect:
+    for y in yStart..yEnd:
+      var c = bb[x,y]
+      var v: int
+      if y == yStart:
+        v = if (c and UP) > 0: VERT else: DOWN
+      elif y == yEnd:
+        v = if (c and DOWN) > 0: VERT else: UP
+      else:
+        v = VERT
+      if doubleStyle: v = v or V_DBL
+      bb[x,y] = c or v
+  else:
+    for y in yStart..yEnd:
+      var v = VERT
+      if doubleStyle: v = v or V_DBL
+      bb[x,y] = v
+
+
+proc drawRect*(bb: var BoxBuffer, x1, y1, x2, y2: Natural,
+               doubleStyle: bool = false, connect: bool = true) =
+  ## Draws a rectangle into the box buffer. Set `doubleStyle` to `true` to
+  ## draw double lines. Set `connect` to `true` to connect overlapping lines.
+  if abs(x1-x2) < 1 or abs(y1-y2) < 1: return
+
+  if connect:
+    bb.drawHorizLine(x1, x2, y1, doubleStyle)
+    bb.drawHorizLine(x1, x2, y2, doubleStyle)
+    bb.drawVertLine(x1, y1, y2, doubleStyle)
+    bb.drawVertLine(x2, y1, y2, doubleStyle)
+  else:
+    bb.drawHorizLine(x1+1, x2-1, y1, doubleStyle, connect = false)
+    bb.drawHorizLine(x1+1, x2-1, y2, doubleStyle, connect = false)
+    bb.drawVertLine(x1, y1+1, y2-1, doubleStyle, connect = false)
+    bb.drawVertLine(x2, y1+1, y2-1, doubleStyle, connect = false)
+
+    var c = RIGHT or DOWN
+    if doubleStyle: c = c or V_DBL or H_DBL
+    bb[x1,y1] = c
+
+    c = LEFT or DOWN
+    if doubleStyle: c = c or V_DBL or H_DBL
+    bb[x2,y1] = c
+
+    c = RIGHT or UP
+    if doubleStyle: c = c or V_DBL or H_DBL
+    bb[x1,y2] = c
+
+    c = LEFT or UP
+    if doubleStyle: c = c or V_DBL or H_DBL
+    bb[x2,y2] = c
+
+
+proc write*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, bb: var BoxBuffer) =
+  ## Writes the contents of the box buffer into this terminal buffer with
+  ## the current text attributes.
+  let width = min(tb.width, bb.width)
+  let height = min(tb.height, bb.height)
+  var horizBoxCharCount: int
+  var forceWrite: bool
+
+  for y in 0..<height:
+    horizBoxCharCount = 0
+    forceWrite = false
+    for x in 0..<width:
+      let boxChar = bb[x,y]
+      if boxChar > 0:
+        if ((boxChar and LEFT) or (boxChar and RIGHT)) > 0:
+          if horizBoxCharCount == 1:
+            var prev = tb[x-1,y]
+            prev.forceWrite = true
+            tb[x-1,y] = prev
+          if horizBoxCharCount >= 1:
+            forceWrite = true
+          inc(horizBoxCharCount)
+        else:
+          horizBoxCharCount = 0
+          forceWrite = false
+
+        var c = TerminalChar(ch: toUTF8String(boxChar).runeAt(0),
+                             fg: tb.currFg, bg: tb.currBg,
+                             style: tb.currStyle, forceWrite: forceWrite)
+        tb[x,y] = c
+
+
+type
+  TerminalCmd* = enum  ## commands that can be expressed as arguments
+    resetStyle         ## reset attributes
+
+template writeProcessArg(tb: var TerminalBuffer, s: string) =
+  tb.write(s)
+
+template writeProcessArg(tb: var TerminalBuffer, style: Style) =
+  tb.setStyle({style})
+
+template writeProcessArg(tb: var TerminalBuffer, style: set[Style]) =
+  tb.setStyle(style)
+
+template writeProcessArg(tb: var TerminalBuffer, color: ForegroundColor) =
+  tb.setForegroundColor(color)
+
+template writeProcessArg(tb: var TerminalBuffer, color: BackgroundColor) =
+  tb.setBackgroundColor(color)
+
+template writeProcessArg(tb: var TerminalBuffer, cmd: TerminalCmd) =
+  when cmd == resetStyle:
+    tb.resetAttributes()
+
+macro write*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, args: varargs[typed]): untyped =
+  ## Special version of `write` that allows to intersperse text literals with
+  ## set attribute commands.
+  ##
+  ## Example:
+  ##
+  ## .. code-block::
+  ##   import illwill
+  ##
+  ##   illwillInit(fullscreen=false)
+  ##
+  ##   var tb = newTerminalBuffer(terminalWidth(), terminalHeight())
+  ##
+  ##   tb.setForegroundColor(fgGreen)
+  ##   tb.setBackgroundColor(bgBlue)
+  ##   tb.write(0, 10, "before")
+  ##
+  ##   tb.write(0, 11, "unchanged", resetStyle, fgYellow, "yellow", bgRed, "red bg",
+  ##                   styleBlink, "blink", resetStyle, "reset")
+  ##
+  ##   tb.write(0, 12, "after")
+  ##
+  ##   tb.display()
+  ##
+  ##   illwillDeinit()
+  ##
+  ## This will output the following:
+  ##
+  ## * 1st row:
+  ##   - `before` with blue background, green foreground and default style
+  ## * 2nd row:
+  ##   - `unchanged` with blue background, green foreground and default style
+  ##   - `yellow` with default background, yellow foreground and default style
+  ##   - `red bg` with red background, yellow foreground and default style
+  ##   - `blink` with red background, yellow foreground and blink style (if
+  ##     supported by the terminal)
+  ##   - `reset` with the default background and foreground and default style
+  ## * 3rd row:
+  ##   - `after` with the default background and foreground and default style
+  ##
+  ##
+  result = newNimNode(nnkStmtList)
+
+  if args.len >= 3 and
+     args[0].typeKind() == ntyInt and args[1].typeKind() == ntyInt:
+
+    let x = args[0]
+    let y = args[1]
+    result.add(newCall(bindSym"setCursorPos", tb, x, y))
+    for i in 2..<args.len:
+      let item = args[i]
+      result.add(newCall(bindSym"writeProcessArg", tb, item))
+  else:
+    for item in args.items:
+      result.add(newCall(bindSym"writeProcessArg", tb, item))
+
+
+proc drawHorizLine*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, x1, x2, y: Natural,
+                    doubleStyle: bool = false) =
+  ## Convenience method to draw a single horizontal line into a terminal
+  ## buffer directly.
+  var bb = newBoxBuffer(tb.width, tb.height)
+  bb.drawHorizLine(x1, x2, y, doubleStyle)
+  tb.write(bb)
+
+proc drawVertLine*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, x, y1, y2: Natural,
+                   doubleStyle: bool = false) =
+  ## Convenience method to draw a single vertical line into a terminal buffer
+  ## directly.
+  var bb = newBoxBuffer(tb.width, tb.height)
+  bb.drawVertLine(x, y1, y2, doubleStyle)
+  tb.write(bb)
+
+proc drawRect*(tb: var TerminalBuffer, x1, y1, x2, y2: Natural,
+               doubleStyle: bool = false) =
+  ## Convenience method to draw a rectangle into a terminal buffer directly.
+  var bb = newBoxBuffer(tb.width, tb.height)
+  bb.drawRect(x1, y1, x2, y2, doubleStyle)
+  tb.write(bb)
+
diff --git a/todo.md b/todo.md
index d16933f..71de928 100644
--- a/todo.md
+++ b/todo.md
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@
 - [x] add cligen adapters to add colors with bbansi
   - [ ] add integration test check cligen
 - [ ] add generic help generator to accompany parseopt
-
 ## improvements
 
+- [ ] consider reducing illwill surface to only relevant IO (input) features
 - [ ] revamp spinner api
 - [x] add Bbstring ~~indexing operations~~ strutils, that are span aware