From TUI Tools to Custom Frameworks in Web Development

By Jared Lyvers, ldnddev - February 06, 2026

At ldnddev, LLC, our Drupal and WordPress specialists are constantly refining workflows to deliver custom websites that perform flawlessly. As developers, we've discovered that true efficiency comes from selecting—and sometimes creating—the right tools. Over the years, my journey has shifted from basic web development tasks to engineering bespoke frameworks that automate repetitive processes, saving time and reducing errors. In this post, we'll explore the resurgence of Terminal User Interface (TUI) apps, dive into building custom frameworks like our recent dd_lando project, and discuss the profound value of crafting tools tailored to your needs. Whether you're managing Drupal migrations or WordPress multisite setups, these insights can transform how you work.

Why TUI Apps Are Making a Comeback in Modern Development

Terminal User Interface (TUI) applications may evoke memories of retro computing, but they're experiencing a renaissance among developers who prioritize speed and simplicity. Unlike resource-heavy GUIs, TUIs run directly in the terminal, using text-based graphics, keyboard shortcuts, and minimal overhead. This makes them ideal for Unix/Linux environments, where many of us at ldnddev spend our days SSH-ing into servers for Drupal deployments or WordPress optimizations.

What drives this comeback? Efficiency in high-stakes workflows. For instance:

• Speed and Lightweight Design: TUIs load instantly and consume fewer resources, perfect for remote sessions where bandwidth is limited. Tools like Lazygit allow seamless Git operations without leaving the command line—crucial when juggling branches in a complex Drupal module.
• Integration with Existing Tools: They play nicely with scripts, pipes, and automation pipelines. Imagine querying a WordPress database with Lazysql during a troubleshooting session; no need to switch to a bulky IDE.
• Focus on Productivity: By stripping away distractions, TUIs encourage a "keyboard-first" mindset. At ldnddev, we use btop for real-time system monitoring during performance tuning, ensuring servers handle traffic spikes without GUI bloat.

In an era of containerization and cloud-native development, TUIs bridge the gap between traditional CLI power and user-friendly interfaces. They're not just for sysadmins anymore; web devs building custom themes or plugins find them indispensable for maintaining flow state.

Building Custom Frameworks: A Case Study with dd_lando

Inspired by TUI principles, I've taken tool-building a step further by creating custom frameworks that address specific pain points in our workflow. Take the dd_lando project, (WIP), I tackled this week: Manually crafting Lando YAML files for local development environments was a tedious, error-prone task. Lando is fantastic for spinning up Drupal or WordPress stacks, but configuring services like databases, caching, and tooling for each project ate into valuable coding time.

The dd_lando framework speeds up this process entirely. Here's how it works:

• Problem Identification: We pinpointed the repetition in YAML setup—defining PHP versions, database credentials, and integrations like Xdebug for debugging WordPress plugins.
• Core Features: Built in standard HTML, JavaScript, and CSS for speed, host anywhere, and reliability. dd_lando generates YAML configs via a simple web interface. Select defaults, input your project specs (e.g., Drupal 10 with Solr search), and it outputs a ready-to-use .lando.yml file.
• Extensibility: It includes templates for common ldnddev setups, default Lando recipes and a few extras. Plus, it's open-source, inviting contributions from the community.
• Integration with TUIs: Pair it with tools like Fresh Editor for on-the-fly edits, creating a seamless loop from config generation to deployment.

This project exemplifies our philosophy at ldnddev: Automate the mundane to focus on innovation. Since implementing dd_lando, our team has cut initial setup time, freeing us to tackle client-specific customizations.

Expanding Your Toolkit: More Custom Solutions We've Explored

Beyond dd_lando, we've experimented with a custom framework to enhance our static sites, Drupal and WordPress design and development efforts:

• Design to Code: A design system and component library that is fully built out and WCAG tested.
• Theme creation: Building default boiler plate themes for both Drupal and WordPress allow us to create, build, and deploy for a fast to market approach while still allowing for custimization along the way.
• WCAG Compliance: Creating a dash-panel that utilized axe-cli for local dev scanning while developing has helped catch 65% of issues while still in the local environment. This makes remediation when using tools like Level Access for full site scans much more efficient.

These aren't off-the-shelf solutions; they're born from real-world challenges, like optimizing a high-traffic Drupal news portal or securing a WordPress e-learning platform. By open-sourcing them, we contribute back to the community while refining our own processes.

The Value of Building Your Own Tools: Beyond Efficiency

There's an intrinsic reward in crafting tools you genuinely need—it deepens your understanding of the problems at hand. Starting from first principles forces you to dissect workflows: Why does this YAML config fail? How can we make database migrations idempotent? This mindset has led ldnddev to deliver more robust custom websites, where every component is purpose-built.

Moreover, custom tools foster team collaboration. Shared frameworks reduce onboarding time for new devs and standardize practices, ensuring consistency across projects. In open-source ecosystems like Drupal and WordPress, this approach also sparks innovation—our dd_lando has already garnered feedback from fellow developers, leading to enhancements like better support for containerized testing.

Of course, building tools isn't always straightforward. It requires balancing time investment against immediate gains, but the long-term payoff is undeniable: Empowered developers, happier clients, and workflows that scale.

Final Thoughts: Elevate Your Development Game

Whether embracing TUIs for quick wins or engineering custom frameworks like dd_lando, the key is intentional tool selection. At ldnddev, these strategies have elevated our custom web development, from Drupal-powered enterprise sites to dynamic WordPress experiences. If you're ready to optimize your setup, start small—experiment with a TUI today or automate a recurring task. The results might just redefine your productivity.

What's one tool or framework that's transformed your workflow? We'd love to hear about it!

Until next time, Jared Lyvers