diff --git a/tools/tui/graphics/command.go b/tools/tui/graphics/command.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e8b813ffe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/tui/graphics/command.go
@@ -0,0 +1,955 @@
+// License: GPLv3 Copyright: 2022, Kovid Goyal, <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
+
+package graphics
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"compress/zlib"
+	"encoding/base64"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"strconv"
+
+	"kitty/tools/tui/loop"
+)
+
+var _ = fmt.Print
+
+type GRT_a int
+
+const (
+	GRT_action_transmit GRT_a = iota
+	GRT_action_transmit_and_display
+	GRT_action_query
+	GRT_action_display
+	GRT_action_delete
+	GRT_action_frame
+	GRT_action_animate
+	GRT_action_compose
+)
+
+func (self GRT_a) String() string {
+	switch self {
+	default:
+		return "t"
+	case GRT_action_transmit_and_display:
+		return "T"
+	case GRT_action_query:
+		return "q"
+	case GRT_action_display:
+		return "p"
+	case GRT_action_delete:
+		return "d"
+	case GRT_action_frame:
+		return "f"
+	case GRT_action_animate:
+		return "a"
+	case GRT_action_compose:
+		return "c"
+	}
+}
+
+func GRT_a_from_string(a string) (ans GRT_a, err error) {
+	switch a {
+	default:
+		err = fmt.Errorf("Not a valid action: %#v", a)
+	case "t":
+	case "T":
+		ans = GRT_action_transmit_and_display
+	case "q":
+		ans = GRT_action_query
+	case "p":
+		ans = GRT_action_display
+	case "d":
+		ans = GRT_action_delete
+	case "f":
+		ans = GRT_action_frame
+	case "a":
+		ans = GRT_action_animate
+	case "c":
+		ans = GRT_action_compose
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+type GRT_q int
+
+const (
+	GRT_quiet_noisy GRT_q = iota
+	GRT_quiet_only_errors
+	GRT_quiet_silent
+)
+
+func (self GRT_q) String() string {
+	return strconv.Itoa(int(self))
+}
+
+func GRT_q_from_string(a string) (ans GRT_q, err error) {
+	switch a {
+	case "0":
+	case "1":
+		ans = GRT_quiet_only_errors
+	case "2":
+		ans = GRT_quiet_silent
+	default:
+		err = fmt.Errorf("Not a valid quiet value: %#v", a)
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+type GRT_f int
+
+const (
+	GRT_format_rgba GRT_f = iota
+	GRT_format_rgb
+	GRT_format_png
+)
+
+func (self GRT_f) String() string {
+	switch self {
+	default:
+		return "32"
+	case GRT_format_rgb:
+		return "24"
+	case GRT_format_png:
+		return "100"
+	}
+}
+
+func GRT_f_from_string(a string) (ans GRT_f, err error) {
+	switch a {
+	case "32":
+	case "24":
+		ans = GRT_format_rgb
+	case "100":
+		ans = GRT_format_png
+	default:
+		err = fmt.Errorf("Not a valid format value: %#v", a)
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+type GRT_t int
+
+const (
+	GRT_transmission_direct GRT_t = iota
+	GRT_transmission_file
+	GRT_transmission_tempfile
+	GRT_transmission_sharedmem
+)
+
+func (self GRT_t) String() string {
+	switch self {
+	default:
+		return "d"
+	case GRT_transmission_file:
+		return "f"
+	case GRT_transmission_tempfile:
+		return "t"
+	case GRT_transmission_sharedmem:
+		return "s"
+	}
+}
+
+func GRT_t_from_string(a string) (ans GRT_t, err error) {
+	switch a {
+	case "d":
+	case "f":
+		ans = GRT_transmission_file
+	case "t":
+		ans = GRT_transmission_tempfile
+	case "s":
+		ans = GRT_transmission_sharedmem
+	default:
+		err = fmt.Errorf("Not a valid transmission value: %#v", a)
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+type GRT_o int
+
+const (
+	GRT_compression_none GRT_o = iota
+	GRT_compression_zlib
+)
+
+func (self GRT_o) String() string {
+	switch self {
+	default:
+		return ""
+	case GRT_compression_zlib:
+		return "z"
+	}
+}
+
+func GRT_o_from_string(a string) (ans GRT_o, err error) {
+	switch a {
+	case "":
+	case "z":
+		ans = GRT_compression_zlib
+	default:
+		err = fmt.Errorf("Not a valid compression value: %#v", a)
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+type GRT_m int
+
+const (
+	GRT_more_nomore GRT_m = iota
+	GRT_more_more
+)
+
+func (self GRT_m) String() string {
+	return strconv.Itoa(int(self))
+}
+
+func GRT_m_from_string(a string) (ans GRT_m, err error) {
+	switch a {
+	case "0":
+	case "1":
+		ans = GRT_more_more
+	default:
+		err = fmt.Errorf("Not a valid more value: %#v", a)
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+type GRT_C int
+
+const (
+	GRT_cursor_move GRT_C = iota
+	GRT_cursor_static
+)
+
+func (self GRT_C) String() string {
+	return strconv.Itoa(int(self))
+}
+
+func GRT_C_from_string(a string) (ans GRT_C, err error) {
+	switch a {
+	case "0":
+	case "1":
+		ans = GRT_cursor_static
+	default:
+		err = fmt.Errorf("Not a valid cursor movement value: %#v", a)
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+type CompositionMode int
+
+const (
+	AlphaBlend CompositionMode = iota
+	Overwrite
+)
+
+func (self CompositionMode) String() string {
+	return strconv.Itoa(int(self))
+}
+
+func CompositionMode_from_string(a string) (ans CompositionMode, err error) {
+	switch a {
+	case "0":
+	case "1":
+		ans = Overwrite
+	default:
+		err = fmt.Errorf("Not a valid composition mode value: %#v", a)
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+type GRT_d int
+
+const (
+	GRT_delete_visible GRT_d = iota
+	GRT_free_visible
+
+	GRT_delete_by_id
+	GRT_free_by_id
+
+	GRT_delete_by_number
+	GRT_free_by_number
+
+	GRT_delete_by_cursor
+	GRT_free_by_cursor
+
+	GRT_delete_by_frame
+	GRT_free_by_frame
+
+	GRT_delete_by_cell
+	GRT_free_by_cell
+
+	GRT_delete_by_cell_zindex
+	GRT_free_by_cell_zindex
+
+	GRT_delete_by_column
+	GRT_free_by_column
+
+	GRT_delete_by_row
+	GRT_free_by_row
+
+	GRT_delete_by_zindex
+	GRT_free_by_zindex
+)
+
+func (self GRT_d) String() string {
+	switch self {
+	default:
+		return "a"
+	case GRT_free_visible:
+		return "A"
+
+	case GRT_delete_by_id:
+		return "i"
+	case GRT_free_by_id:
+		return "I"
+
+	case GRT_delete_by_number:
+		return "n"
+	case GRT_free_by_number:
+		return "N"
+
+	case GRT_delete_by_cursor:
+		return "c"
+	case GRT_free_by_cursor:
+		return "C"
+
+	case GRT_delete_by_frame:
+		return "f"
+	case GRT_free_by_frame:
+		return "F"
+
+	case GRT_delete_by_cell:
+		return "p"
+	case GRT_free_by_cell:
+		return "P"
+
+	case GRT_delete_by_cell_zindex:
+		return "q"
+	case GRT_free_by_cell_zindex:
+		return "Q"
+
+	case GRT_delete_by_column:
+		return "x"
+	case GRT_free_by_column:
+		return "X"
+
+	case GRT_delete_by_row:
+		return "y"
+	case GRT_free_by_row:
+		return "Y"
+
+	case GRT_delete_by_zindex:
+		return "z"
+	case GRT_free_by_zindex:
+		return "Z"
+	}
+}
+
+func GRT_d_from_string(a string) (ans GRT_d, err error) {
+	switch a {
+	case "a":
+		ans = GRT_delete_visible
+	case "A":
+		ans = GRT_free_visible
+
+	case "i":
+		ans = GRT_delete_by_id
+	case "I":
+		ans = GRT_free_by_id
+
+	case "n":
+		ans = GRT_delete_by_number
+	case "N":
+		ans = GRT_free_by_number
+
+	case "c":
+		ans = GRT_delete_by_cursor
+	case "C":
+		ans = GRT_free_by_cursor
+
+	case "f":
+		ans = GRT_delete_by_frame
+	case "F":
+		ans = GRT_free_by_frame
+
+	case "p":
+		ans = GRT_delete_by_cell
+	case "P":
+		ans = GRT_free_by_cell
+
+	case "q":
+		ans = GRT_delete_by_cell_zindex
+	case "Q":
+		ans = GRT_free_by_cell_zindex
+
+	case "x":
+		ans = GRT_delete_by_column
+	case "X":
+		ans = GRT_free_by_column
+
+	case "y":
+		ans = GRT_delete_by_row
+	case "Y":
+		ans = GRT_free_by_row
+
+	case "z":
+		ans = GRT_delete_by_zindex
+	case "Z":
+		ans = GRT_free_by_zindex
+
+	default:
+		err = fmt.Errorf("Not a valid delete value: %#v", a)
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+type GraphicsCommand struct {
+	a GRT_a
+	q GRT_q
+	f GRT_f
+	t GRT_t
+	o GRT_o
+	m GRT_m
+	C GRT_C
+	d GRT_d
+
+	s, v, S, O, x, y, w, h, X, Y, c, r uint64
+
+	i, I, p uint32
+
+	z int32
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) WriteMetadata(o io.StringWriter) (err error) {
+	var null GraphicsCommand
+	is_first := true
+	cfmt := "%c=%v"
+
+	write_key := func(k byte, val, defval any) {
+		if val == defval || err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		_, err = o.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf(cfmt, k, val))
+		if is_first {
+			is_first = false
+			cfmt = "," + cfmt
+		}
+	}
+
+	write_key('a', self.a, null.a)
+	write_key('q', self.q, null.q)
+	write_key('f', self.f, null.f)
+	write_key('t', self.t, null.t)
+	write_key('o', self.o, null.o)
+	write_key('m', self.m, null.m)
+	write_key('C', self.C, null.C)
+	write_key('d', self.d, null.d)
+
+	write_key('s', self.s, null.s)
+	write_key('v', self.v, null.v)
+	write_key('S', self.S, null.S)
+	write_key('O', self.O, null.O)
+	write_key('x', self.x, null.x)
+	write_key('y', self.y, null.y)
+	write_key('w', self.w, null.w)
+	write_key('h', self.h, null.h)
+	write_key('X', self.X, null.X)
+	write_key('Y', self.Y, null.Y)
+	write_key('c', self.c, null.c)
+	write_key('r', self.r, null.r)
+
+	write_key('i', self.i, null.i)
+	write_key('I', self.I, null.I)
+	write_key('p', self.p, null.p)
+
+	write_key('z', self.z, null.z)
+	return
+
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) serialize_to(buf io.StringWriter, chunk string) (err error) {
+	ws := func(s string) {
+		_, err = buf.WriteString(s)
+	}
+	ws("\033_G")
+	if err == nil {
+		err = self.WriteMetadata(buf)
+		if err == nil {
+			if len(chunk) > 0 {
+				ws(";")
+				if err == nil {
+					_, err = buf.WriteString(chunk)
+				}
+			}
+			if err == nil {
+				ws("\033\\")
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+func compress_with_zlib(data []byte) []byte {
+	var b bytes.Buffer
+	b.Grow(len(data) + 128)
+	w := zlib.NewWriter(&b)
+	w.Write(data)
+	w.Close()
+	return b.Bytes()
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) WriteWithPayloadTo(o io.StringWriter, payload []byte) (err error) {
+	const compression_threshold = 1024
+	if len(payload) == 0 {
+		return self.serialize_to(o, "")
+	}
+	if len(payload) <= compression_threshold {
+		return self.serialize_to(o, base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(payload))
+	}
+	gc := *self
+	compressed := compress_with_zlib(payload)
+	if len(compressed) < len(payload) {
+		gc.SetCompression(GRT_compression_zlib)
+		payload = compressed
+	}
+	gc.SetDataSize(uint64(len(payload)))
+	data := base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(payload)
+	for len(data) > 0 && err != nil {
+		chunk := data[:4096]
+		data = data[4096:]
+		if len(data) > 0 {
+			gc.m = GRT_more_more
+		} else {
+			gc.m = GRT_more_nomore
+		}
+		err = gc.serialize_to(o, chunk)
+		gc = GraphicsCommand{}
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+type loop_io_writer struct {
+	lp *loop.Loop
+}
+
+func (self *loop_io_writer) WriteString(data string) (n int, err error) {
+	self.lp.QueueWriteString(data)
+	return
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) WriteWithPayloadToLoop(lp *loop.Loop, payload []byte) (err error) {
+	w := loop_io_writer{lp}
+	return self.WriteWithPayloadTo(&w, payload)
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) Set(key byte, value any) error {
+	var ok bool
+	re := func() error { return fmt.Errorf("Not a valid value for %c: %#v", key, value) }
+	switch key {
+	case 'a':
+		self.a, ok = value.(GRT_a)
+	case 'q':
+		self.q, ok = value.(GRT_q)
+	case 'f':
+		self.f, ok = value.(GRT_f)
+	case 't':
+		self.t, ok = value.(GRT_t)
+	case 'o':
+		self.o, ok = value.(GRT_o)
+	case 'm':
+		self.m, ok = value.(GRT_m)
+	case 'C':
+		self.C, ok = value.(GRT_C)
+	case 'd':
+		self.d, ok = value.(GRT_d)
+	case 's':
+		self.s, ok = value.(uint64)
+	case 'v':
+		self.v, ok = value.(uint64)
+	case 'S':
+		self.S, ok = value.(uint64)
+	case 'O':
+		self.O, ok = value.(uint64)
+	case 'x':
+		self.x, ok = value.(uint64)
+	case 'y':
+		self.y, ok = value.(uint64)
+	case 'w':
+		self.w, ok = value.(uint64)
+	case 'h':
+		self.h, ok = value.(uint64)
+	case 'X':
+		self.X, ok = value.(uint64)
+	case 'Y':
+		self.Y, ok = value.(uint64)
+	case 'c':
+		self.c, ok = value.(uint64)
+	case 'r':
+		self.r, ok = value.(uint64)
+	case 'i':
+		self.i, ok = value.(uint32)
+	case 'I':
+		self.I, ok = value.(uint32)
+	case 'p':
+		self.p, ok = value.(uint32)
+	case 'z':
+		self.z, ok = value.(int32)
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("Unknown key: %c", key)
+	}
+	if !ok {
+		return re()
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) Action() GRT_a {
+	return self.a
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetAction(a GRT_a) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.a = a
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) Delete() GRT_d {
+	return self.d
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetDelete(d GRT_d) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.d = d
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) Quiet() GRT_q {
+	return self.q
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetQuiet(q GRT_q) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.q = q
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) CursorMovement() GRT_C {
+	return self.C
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetCursorMovement(c GRT_C) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.C = c
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) Format() GRT_f {
+	return self.f
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetFormat(f GRT_f) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.f = f
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) Transmission() GRT_t {
+	return self.t
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetTransmission(t GRT_t) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.t = t
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) Compression() GRT_o {
+	return self.o
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetCompression(o GRT_o) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.o = o
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) Width() uint64 {
+	return self.w
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetWidth(w uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.w = w
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) Height() uint64 {
+	return self.h
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetHeight(h uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.h = h
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) DataWidth() uint64 {
+	return self.s
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetDataWidth(w uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.s = w
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) DataHeight() uint64 {
+	return self.v
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetDataHeight(h uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.v = h
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) NumberOfLoops() uint64 {
+	return self.v
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetNumberOfLoops(n uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.v = n
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) DataSize() uint64 {
+	return self.S
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetDataSize(s uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.S = s
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) DataOffset() uint64 {
+	return self.O
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetDataOffset(o uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.O = o
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) LeftEdge() uint64 {
+	return self.x
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetLeftEdge(x uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.x = x
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) TopEdge() uint64 {
+	return self.y
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetTopEdge(y uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.y = y
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SourceLeftEdge() uint64 {
+	return self.X
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetSourceLeftEdge(x uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.X = x
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) XOffset() uint64 {
+	return self.X
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetXOffset(x uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.X = x
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) BlendMode() CompositionMode {
+	switch self.X {
+	case 1:
+		return Overwrite
+	default:
+		return AlphaBlend
+	}
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetBlendMode(x CompositionMode) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.X = uint64(x)
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) CompositionMode() CompositionMode {
+	switch self.C {
+	case 1:
+		return Overwrite
+	default:
+		return AlphaBlend
+	}
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetCompositionMode(x CompositionMode) *GraphicsCommand {
+	switch x {
+	case Overwrite:
+		self.C = 1
+	case AlphaBlend:
+		self.C = 0
+	}
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) YOffset() uint64 {
+	return self.Y
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetYOffset(y uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.Y = y
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SourceTopEdge() uint64 {
+	return self.Y
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetSourceTopEdge(y uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.Y = y
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) BackgroundColor() uint32 {
+	return uint32(self.Y)
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetBackgroundColor(y uint32) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.Y = uint64(y)
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) Rows() uint64 {
+	return self.r
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetRows(r uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.r = r
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) Columns() uint64 {
+	return self.c
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetColumns(c uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.c = c
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) TargetFrame() uint64 {
+	return self.r
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetTargetFrame(r uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.r = r
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) BaseFrame() uint64 {
+	return self.c
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetBaseFrame(c uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.c = c
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) OverlaidFrame() uint64 {
+	return self.c
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetOverlaidFrame(c uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.c = c
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) FrameToMakeCurrent() uint64 {
+	return self.c
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetFrameToMakeCurrent(c uint64) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.c = c
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) ImageId() uint32 {
+	return self.i
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetImageId(i uint32) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.i = i
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) ImageNumber() uint32 {
+	return self.I
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetImageNumber(n uint32) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.I = n
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) PlacementId() uint32 {
+	return self.p
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetPlacementId(p uint32) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.p = p
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) ZIndex() int32 {
+	return self.z
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetZIndex(z int32) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.z = z
+	return self
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) Gap() int32 {
+	return self.z
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetGap(z int32) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.z = z
+	return self
+}
+
+type AnimationControl uint
+
+const (
+	NoAnimationAction AnimationControl = iota
+	StopAnimation
+	RunAnimationButWaitForNewFrames
+	RunAnimation
+)
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) AnimationControl() AnimationControl {
+	switch AnimationControl(self.s) {
+	default:
+		return NoAnimationAction
+	case StopAnimation:
+		return StopAnimation
+	case RunAnimationButWaitForNewFrames:
+		return RunAnimationButWaitForNewFrames
+	case RunAnimation:
+		return RunAnimation
+	}
+
+}
+
+func (self *GraphicsCommand) SetAnimationControl(z uint) *GraphicsCommand {
+	self.s = uint64(z)
+	return self
+}