cat:render-box

Render emoji-aware bordered terminal output with Python unicodedata width calculations.

101|2|Updated Jan 7, 2026

Search Tags:#CLI #emoji #tables #render #unicode #box

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/cowwoc/cat --skill cat-render-box

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: cat:render-box
Source: https://github.com/cowwoc/cat/tree/main/skills/render-box
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/cowwoc/cat --skill cat-render-box

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill renders emoji-aware bordered output in terminal displays, ensuring alignment when emoji characters are present and avoiding misaligned borders in complex displays.

Core Features & Use Cases

Emoji-aware borders and tables: render status boxes, progress indicators, and data tables with proper alignment across emoji widths.
Delegates width calculation to bash scripts that call Python's unicodedata for accurate padding.
Use Case: When producing CLI dashboards or subagent outputs that include emoji indicators like ✅, ⚠, 🔄, this Skill guarantees consistent visuals.

Quick Start

Load the rendering helpers and render a sample box:

source "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/lib/box.sh" box_init 72 box_top "✅ STATUS: Ready" box_empty box_line " Task: render-box" box_bottom

Frequently Asked Questions about cat:render-box

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I render CLI borders and tables with correct emoji alignment?▼

To render CLI borders and tables with correct emoji alignment, this Skill delegates width calculations to bash scripts that utilize Python's unicodedata. This accurately pads emoji characters like ✅ and ⚠, ensuring crisp bordered terminal output.

Why does my terminal table break when I add emoji characters?▼

Terminal tables break with emoji characters because standard width calculations misjudge their display width. This Skill uses Python's unicodedata and emoji-widths.json to compute exact display widths, preventing misaligned borders in complex displays.

How do I create a status box in bash that supports unicode?▼

To create a status box in bash that supports unicode, source the box.sh helper script, initialize the box width with box_init, and use functions like box_top, box_line, and box_bottom to render accurately padded bordered output.

Do I need Python installed to use emoji-aware box rendering in the terminal?▼

Yes, you need Python installed for emoji-aware box rendering in the terminal. The Skill's bash scripts explicitly call Python's unicodedata module and reference emoji-widths.json to calculate accurate display widths for proper padding.

What is the best way to align progress indicators containing emoji in a CLI dashboard?▼

The best way to align progress indicators containing emoji in a CLI dashboard is to use a rendering helper that computes display widths via unicodedata. This Skill applies accurate padding to ensure borders and tables remain visually consistent.