[FIXED] How do I clear the console in BOTH Windows and Linux using C++

Issue

I need a cross platform solution for clearing the console in both Linux and Windows written in C++. Are there any functions in doing this? Also make note that I don't want the end-user programmer to have to change any code in my program to get it to clear for Windows vs Linux (for example if it has to pick between two functions then the decision has to be made at run-time or at compile-time autonomously).

Solution

Short answer: you can't.

Longer answer: Use a curses library (ncurses on Unix, pdcurses on Windows). NCurses should be available through your package manager, and both ncurses and pdcurses have the exact same interface (pdcurses can also create windows independently from the console that behave like console windows).

Most difficult answer: Use #ifdef _WIN32 and stuff like that to make your code act differently on different operating systems.

Answered By - coppro

Answer Checked By - Mary Flores (PHPFixing Volunteer)