Change terminal size when executing ruby

Question

Is there a way to change the size of the terminal window when executing a program from the command line? I tried using IO#winsize= but it does not seem to be doing anything.

Answer 1

There are Xterm Control Sequences for window manipulation:

CSI Ps ; Ps ; Ps t
          Window manipulation (from dtterm, as well as extensions).
          These controls may be disabled using the allowWindowOps
          resource.  Valid values for the first (and any additional
          parameters) are:
            Ps = 1  -> De-iconify window.
            Ps = 2  -> Iconify window.
            Ps = 3  ; x ; y -> Move window to [x, y].
            Ps = 4  ; height ; width -> Resize the xterm window to
          height and width in pixels.
            Ps = 5  -> Raise the xterm window to the front of the stack-
          ing order.
            Ps = 6  -> Lower the xterm window to the bottom of the
          stacking order.
            Ps = 7  -> Refresh the xterm window.
            Ps = 8  ; height ; width -> Resize the text area to
          [height;width] in characters.
            Ps = 9  ; 0  -> Restore maximized window.
            Ps = 9  ; 1  -> Maximize window (i.e., resize to screen
          size).
            Ps = 1 1  -> Report xterm window state.  If the xterm window
          is open (non-iconified), it returns CSI 1 t .  If the xterm
          window is iconified, it returns CSI 2 t .
            Ps = 1 3  -> Report xterm window position as CSI 3 ; x; yt
            Ps = 1 4  -> Report xterm window in pixels as CSI  4  ;
          height ;  width t
            Ps = 1 8  -> Report the size of the text area in characters
          as CSI  8  ;  height ;  width t
            Ps = 1 9  -> Report the size of the screen in characters as
          CSI  9  ;  height ;  width t
            Ps = 2 0  -> Report xterm window's icon label as OSC  L
          label ST
            Ps = 2 1  -> Report xterm window's title as OSC  l  title ST
            Ps >= 2 4  -> Resize to Ps lines (DECSLPP)

To invoke them from Ruby you could use: ("\e[" is the code for CSI)

print "\e[8;40;80t" # resizes terminal window to 40x80 characters

This only works if your terminal supports the control sequence.