c - how to make ncurses program working with other linux utils? -

suppose have ncurses program job on curses screen, , print stdout. call program c.c, compiled a.out.

i expect cat $(./a.out) first fire ncurses, after action, a.out quits , print c.c stdout, read cat, , print content of file c.c.

#include <stdio.h> #include <ncurses.h>  int main() {     initscr();     noecho();     cbreak();     printw("hello world");     refresh();     getch();     endwin();     fprintf(stdout, "c.c");     return 0; } 

i expect ./a.out | xargs vim, ls | ./a.out | xargs less work.

but when type ./a.out | xargs vim, hello world never shows up. command seems not executed in order, vim not open c.c.

what correct way make ncurses program work other linux utils?

pipes use standard output (stdout) , standard input (stdin).

the simplest way - rather using initscr, initializes output use standard output, use newterm, allows choose file descriptors, e.g.,

newterm(null, stderr, stdin); 

rather than

initscr(); 

which (almost) same as

newterm(null, stdout, stdin); 

by way, when include <ncurses.h> (or <curses.h>), there no need include <stdio.h>.

if wanted use program in middle of pipe, more complicated: have drain standard input , open actual terminal device. that's question (and has been answered).

further reading:

• initscr, newterm, endwin, isendwin, set_term, delscreen - curses screen initialization , manipulation routines