title: How do I create a static framed ASCII interface in Python?
body: <p>When I use the <code>less</code> command in my Mac Terminal I'm shown a 23 row slice of the specified file.  If I move down the file, then scroll up in the terminal window, I don't see any file content before the current slice.  Instead, I see the commands I typed before using <code>less</code>.</p>
  
  <p>I would like to use this or a similar effect to create an ascii game interface that shows only the current screen, with no history.  I would draw my frames on screen and change only the text or options within those frames.  This is very common in older systems that ran mostly or entirely in a command line environment.</p>
  
  <p>Is there a Python module that offers this?  Is it an effect that I can or should implement myself?</p>
  
  <p>Here are some example screen elements that could benefit from this effect.</p>
  
  <pre><code>+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
  |                                                                   |
  | Dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog    |
  | dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog    |
  | dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog    |
  | dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog dialog    |
  | dialog dialog dialog dialog.                                      |
  |                                                                   |
  |                                                                   |
  |                                                                   |
  +--------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
  |   Attack           |     South     |            HP/Max   MP/Max   |
  | &gt; Cast Magic       |       -       |   Tom:    120/120   60/91    |
  |   Use Item         |      New      | &gt; Dick:    27/133   47/47    |
  |   Tactics          |  Schwartzton  |   Harry:   87/104   16/113   |
  +--------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
  </code></pre>