Terminal tab progress reporting using OSC 9;4; ANSI sequence

[bluetech]

What's the problem this feature will solve?

I've learned about a new feature that some terminal emulators are starting to add, which shows progress of a process on the terminal tab. I've learned about it from here. Screenshot of how it will look in Gnome (Linux) from here. Seems like a good fit for pytest, allowing a user start a pytest run, do something in another tab and see at a glance the pytest progress.

Describe the solution you'd like

The sequence is documented here.

It should be implemented in the terminal plugin, in TerminalReporter, probably in pytest_runtest_logreport.

My only concern is that it's a global effect on the terminal tab, which pytest doesn't have until now as far as I remember. But it's probably fine and if someone complains we can make it optional.

[marcelotrevisani]

I think that is nice, but shouldn't it start as plugin first? Just to validate it and polish the idea better? 😃

[The-Compiler]

Not sure if it's worth the trouble — the TerminalReporter already has access to all the information needed, the output might need coordination with existing terminal output, and we also have all the logic to calculate the progress available there as well.

[The-Compiler]

Oh, also note that Linux support at best seems to be spotty for this, with some speaking out against it:

• Add support for OSC 9;4 for progress reporting kovidgoyal/kitty#3679
• Support for OSC 9;4 for progress reporting alacritty/alacritty#5201

From what I understand, the only terminal emulators supporting this are Ptyxis and Gnome VTE (though the latter is probably used by various frontends, not sure which ones of those actually display it then).

Apparently OSC 9 is also used for notifcations commonly, causing notification spam for terminals which support that:

• #1870 - osc: 9: ignore ConEmu/Windows Terminal sequences - dnkl/foot - Codeberg.org
• OSC 9;4 for progress reporting conflicts with OSC 9 notifications kovidgoyal/kitty#8011