Terminal borders that don't cost a cell

This article explores the limitations of using border characters in terminal interfaces. The author argues that borders consume precious space and hinder good design. They propose an alternative approach using cell borders, which are attributes stored within each cell rather than separate text glyphs. Cell borders enable more efficient use of screen real estate, better text formatting, and easier copy-pasting of content.

They also support various line styles, corner shapes, and colors, enhancing visual clarity and interactivity. The author demonstrates the concept using a terminal application built with Ratatui and Ghostty, showcasing how cell borders facilitate intuitive navigation and layout management without sacrificing visual appeal.