linux CLI screenshot without X

Question

is there an easy FOSS way to get a screenshot of a curses-based command line GUI when X isn't installed?

What if the powers-that-be say I can't remote login? (I'm working on it ha)

Answer 1

SSH to the server and run the curses-based command; it should translate properly to curses "graphics", depending on how your terminal client's emulation is configured. Screenshot using your desktop OS's utility.

At least, that's what I'd do.

Answer 2

You can also use the screen program, and pressing ctrl-a h will write the screen to a file 'hardcopy.n'.

Answer 3

In addition to what Joe mentioned you can also use a virtual machine to get screen shots of things that you can't do any other way such as the installer.

If getting the output of a session including all commands and output command as text would be better then have a look at the script command. And in some situations something like pastebinit may be appropriate.

Although I'm not sure how script deals with a curses based app.

Answer 4

scrot is a cli based screenshot tool which i've used before. Its a little quirky (it'll take a screenshot of the system i'm sshed in from) but might be ideal for your needs

Answer 5

I have done this on old serial terminals by takeing a photo of the termial screen. This is simple and works with no modifications to the terminal at all.

Answer 6

One solution might be a video loopback. In theory, you could use a Video4Linux device then capture its output with a v4l capture program.

Answer 7

If you're running on a virtual terminal (e.g. [Ctrl]-Alt-F1), you can, from another terminal, type:

sudo cat /dev/vcs1 > screenshot_file

or

sudo cat /dev/vcsa1 > screenshot_file

but the results probably won't be satisfactory.