The Console class can do more than just WriteLine().

Here’s 3 fun/weird/useful/annoying things.

1. Setting The Console Window Size

The Console.SetWindowSize(numberColumns, numberRows) method sets the console window size.

To annoy your users (or create a “nice” console opening animation) as this animated GIF shows you could write something like:

for (int i = 1; i < 40; i++)
{
    Console.SetWindowSize(i,i);
    System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(50);
}

2. Beeping Consoles

The Console.Beep() method emits a beep from the speaker(s).

We can also specify a frequency and duration.

The following console application allows the performer to adjust frequency and duration by using the keyboard arrows:

internal class Program
{
    private static int _frequency = 10000;
    private static int _duration = 100;

    private static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Use keyboard arrows to adjust frequency and duration");
        Console.WriteLine("Press CTRL-C to quit");

        do
        {
            // While no one is pressing any keys just keep on beeping
            while (!Console.KeyAvailable)
            {
                Console.Beep(_frequency, _duration);
            }


            // A key has been pressed, read what key (and prevent echoing to console output)
            var k = Console.ReadKey(true);

            switch (k.Key)
            {
                case ConsoleKey.UpArrow:
                    IncreaseFrequency();
                    break;
                case ConsoleKey.DownArrow:
                    DecreaseFrequency();
                    break;
                case ConsoleKey.RightArrow:
                    IncreaseDuration();
                    break;
                case ConsoleKey.LeftArrow:
                    DecreaseDuration();
                    break;
            }
        } while (true);
    }

    private static void IncreaseDuration()
    {
        _duration += 100;
        _duration = Math.Min(_duration, 1000);
    }

    private static void DecreaseDuration()
    {
        _duration -= 100;
        _duration = Math.Max(_duration, 100);
    }

    private static void IncreaseFrequency()
    {
        _frequency += 100;
        _frequency = Math.Min(_frequency, 15000);
    }

    private static void DecreaseFrequency()
    {
        _frequency -= 100;
        _frequency = Math.Max(_frequency, 1000);
    }
}

3. Fun With Titles

The Title property sets what appears in the console window title.

We can create an indeterminate style progress bar in the title by using a Unicode block character.

internal class Program
{
    private static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        const int maxProgressBarLength = 10;
        const string progressBarElement = "█";

        var title = "";

        do
        {
            title += progressBarElement;

            if (title.Length > maxProgressBarLength)
            {
                title = progressBarElement;
            }

            Console.Title = title;

            Thread.Sleep(100);
        } while (true);
    }
}

For more console related tips, check out my Building .NET Console Applications in C# Pluralsight course.

You can start watching with a Pluralsight free trial.

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