Console Wrapper

ConsoleWrapper is, in short, a Direct3D wrapper for a standard Windows console.

Output from any console application (usually cmd.exe) is redirected through ConsoleWrapper, slapped onto 3D geometry, and animated. Currently, animation is basically smooth scrolling with a small amount of perspective, but potential is almost limitless.

Picture running multiple terminals at once, flipping through them like pages on a book, with full transparency, reflection, and physics effects. Lines drop into view, and discarded applications quietly fade away. These are just some of the possible concepts which can be achieved using a 3D environment such as ConsoleWrapper.

Video

ConsoleWrapper in action:

Download

ConsoleWrapper_2008-06-01_Installer.zip [ 2.9MB ]

Extract the zip file to a chosen installation directory. Run ConsoleWrapper.exe. If you receive an error, try installing DXSETUP.EXE from the DXRedist directory first.

I have been informed that issues are sometimes still encountered, even after following the above step! I’m really starting to regret using DirectX libraries…

Resources

  • SourceForge - Latest binary releases and source code.
  • YouTube - Videos of ConsoleWrapper in action.

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