ncTelegram

A ncurses Telegram client developed in Python with the urwid library.

⚠️ I don't have time anymore to maintain this project, so you may experience unresolved bugs. Feel free to give tg a try as it seems like a good alternative. Though if anyone wants to contribute to ncTelegram I will be happy to review and merge PR.

Dependencies

• Telegram-cli
• urwid
• pytg
• python-psutil
• libnotify (optional)
• caca-utils (optional)

Installation

Arch Linux:

You can use the pkgbuild from AUR:

$ yaourt -S nctelegram-git

OR

$ pacaur -y nctelegram-git

Fedora:

Install dependencies:

$ sudo dnf install telegram-cli python3-urwid python3-psutil python3-pip

Install ncTelegram through pip:

$ sudo pip3 install --upgrade https://github.com/Nanoseb/ncTelegram/archive/master.tar.gz

If you want notifications and inline images:

$ sudo dnf install libnotify caca-utils

Debian/Ubuntu:

To install telegram-cli just follow its readme.

Install urwid:

$ sudo apt-get install python3-urwid python3-psutil python3-pip

Install ncTelegram through pip:

$ sudo pip3 install --upgrade https://github.com/Nanoseb/ncTelegram/archive/master.tar.gz

If you want notifications and inline images:

$ sudo apt-get install libnotify-bin caca-utils

Crux:

Install repository:

$ wget -O /etc/ports/wildefyr.httpup "https://crux.nu/portdb/?a=getup&q=wildefyr"
$ ports -u

Install ncTelegram:

$ prt-get depinst nctelegram

If you want notifications and inline images:

$ prt-get depinst libnotify libcaca

Usage

Before the first run of nctelegram, telegram-cli must be launched first in order to register your account on your machine for the first time. (phone number and verification code).

An example of the configuration file can be found in /etc/ncTelegram.conf, copy it to your personal folder before modifying it:

$ cp /etc/ncTelegram.conf ~/.ncTelegram.conf

Finally, make sure that the path of telegram-cli and the public key are set correctly in ~/.ncTelegram.conf.

Tips

• Press esc to leave the text area.

• Press q to quit the ncTelegram.

• Press esc twice to draw a separator at the end of the message list.

• Use ctrl+o to open the last file or url sent to the current channel.

• Use ctrl+r to insert a linebreak.

• To send files you can simply drag and drop them into your terminal or send as a message their path between single quotes (').

• You can navigate the channel list with ctrl+p and ctrl+n.

• Select Download message buffer to navigate quickly between channels.

• Vim-like key bindings are also available, use hjkl to navigate between lists, use i to select the text area and esc to leave it.

• You can also use ctrl+w to remove words left of the cursor and ctrl+u to remove the whole line.

• Use shift + Up or shift + Down to navigate in your own message history.

Troubleshooting

If nctelegram crashes, please report the issue with a backtrace if possible.

Before restarting nctelegram again, check if telegram-cli is still running; if so kill it before restarting nctelegram.