gum vs huh
Interactive terminal workflows for shell scripts and Go apps
gum provides interactive prompts and styled output that shell scripts can capture and pass to other commands. huh is a Go library for structured terminal forms, usable standalone or within a Bubble Tea application; it also offers an accessible prompt mode.
gum: Build Interactive, Polished Shell Scripts
Gum adds ready-to-use interactive prompts and styled output to shell scripts without requiring Go code. It suits developers who want friendlier command-line workflows, provided their scripts can rely on a terminal UI.
huh: Build Interactive Terminal Forms and Prompts
huh is a Go library for building interactive terminal forms, prompts, and spinners. Use it for standalone command-line input or embed forms in Bubble Tea apps, with validation, dynamic fields, themes, and a screen-reader-friendly mode.
| gum | huh | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Go | Go |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Stars | 24.5k | 7.2k |
| Forks | 554 | 269 |
| Last analyzed | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 |
Key differences
- gum is a CLI aimed at adding terminal interactions to shell scripts, while huh is a library for building forms in Go applications.
- gum includes output and presentation tools such as Markdown rendering, tables, logs, and spinners; huh focuses on structured fields, validation, and grouped form pages.
- gum returns command output that scripts can capture, while huh can bind form answers directly to Go values.
- huh supports integration with Bubble Tea and an accessible mode intended for screen readers; gum's listed capabilities focus on user-driven shell workflows.
- Both projects are written in Go and MIT-licensed. gum has 24.5k stars and 554 forks, while huh has 7.2k stars and 268 forks.
Choose gum if you…
- need interactive prompts or selections in shell scripts without writing a Go application.
- want to add styled text, tables, logs, or spinners to terminal workflows.
- build local, user-driven scripts that pass selections or answers to other commands.
Choose huh if you…
- build a Go application that collects structured input in forms or multi-page flows.
- want to bind answers to Go values and validate fields as users enter them.
- need Bubble Tea integration or a prompt mode intended for screen-reader use.
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This comparison is generated with AI from the OSRepos analyses of both projects. Always check each project's repository and documentation before choosing.