From a6ccdef7e2a845e73efc7152f1d369c3a0cfd037 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: "google-labs-jules[bot]"
 <161369871+google-labs-jules[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2026 12:28:03 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] UX: Use ANSI \033[K to prevent terminal output artifacts

Replaces hardcoded padding spaces with the ANSI Erase in Line sequence (\033[K)
after carriage returns (\r). This ensures clean, reliable terminal updates
without "ghost" characters from previous, longer strings.

Co-authored-by: EiJackGH <172181576+EiJackGH@users.noreply.github.com>
---
 .Jules/palette.md | 4 ++++
 src/main.cpp      | 8 ++++----
 2 files changed, 8 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/.Jules/palette.md b/.Jules/palette.md
index c4e3778..482780b 100644
--- a/.Jules/palette.md
+++ b/.Jules/palette.md
@@ -25,3 +25,7 @@
 ## 2026-03-02 - Hiding the Cursor in CLI Games
 **Learning:** In terminal applications that require rapid visual updates or where user input doesn't involve typing text, an actively blinking cursor can be a visual distraction. Hiding it during interaction (`\033[?25l`) and rigorously ensuring it is restored (`\033[?25h`) on exit—including signal interrupts—significantly improves the aesthetic and focus.
 **Action:** Always hide the cursor for interactive CLI games and explicitly restore it across all exit paths, including async-signal-safe signal handlers.
+
+## 2026-03-14 - Preventing Terminal Output Artifacts
+**Learning:** When dynamically updating text in a CLI application on the same line (using `\r`), simply overwriting with new text or appending a fixed number of spaces can lead to "ghost" characters if the new string is shorter than the previous one. The previous text's tail isn't erased, creating confusing visual artifacts.
+**Action:** Always use the ANSI escape sequence `\033[K` (Erase in Line) immediately after a carriage return `\r` (e.g., `\r\033[K`) to definitively clear the line from the cursor position to the end. This ensures the line is pristine before writing new content, providing a clean and reliable UX without resorting to hardcoded padding.
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index e72f1da..0231ec5 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ int main() {
     }
 
     for (int i = 3; i > 0; --i) {
-        std::cout << "\rStarting in " << i << "... " << std::flush;
+        std::cout << "\r\033[KStarting in " << i << "... " << std::flush;
         auto start_wait = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
         while (std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::milliseconds>(std::chrono::steady_clock::now() - start_wait).count() < 1000) {
             int elapsed = std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::milliseconds>(std::chrono::steady_clock::now() - start_wait).count();
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ int main() {
             }
         }
     }
-    std::cout << "\rGO!             \n" << std::flush;
+    std::cout << "\r\033[KGO!\n" << std::flush;
     std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(200));
     tcflush(STDIN_FILENO, TCIFLUSH);
 
@@ -137,10 +137,10 @@ int main() {
         }
 
         if (updateUI) {
-            std::cout << "\r" << CLR_SCORE << "Score: " << score << CLR_RESET << " "
+            std::cout << "\r\033[K" << CLR_SCORE << "Score: " << score << CLR_RESET << " "
                       << (hardMode ? CLR_HARD "[HARD MODE]" : CLR_NORM "[NORMAL MODE]")
                       << (score > initialHighscore && initialHighscore > 0 ? " NEW BEST! 🥳" : "")
-                      << "           " << std::flush;
+                      << std::flush;
             updateUI = false;
         }
     }