Add TerminalStatus.flush method

3 files changed, 22 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index d9b8504..8d1d805 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 NEWS file for ttystatus
 =======================
 
+Version 0.19, released UNRELEASED
+---------------------------------
+
+* Added a `TerminalStatus.flush` method, to allow forcing an update.
+
 Version 0.18, released 2012-05-08
 ---------------------------------
 
diff --git a/ttystatus/status.py b/ttystatus/status.py
index b98fecd..82457b2 100644
--- a/ttystatus/status.py
+++ b/ttystatus/status.py
@@ -73,6 +73,15 @@ class TerminalStatus(object):
             w.update(self)
         if self._m.time_to_write():
             self._write()
+            
+    def flush(self):
+        '''Force an update of current state to the screen.
+        
+        This happens even if it is not yet time to output the screen.
+        
+        '''
+        
+        self._write()
 
     def _render(self):
         '''Render current state of all widgets.'''
diff --git a/ttystatus/status_tests.py b/ttystatus/status_tests.py
index ef8959a..daba040 100644
--- a/ttystatus/status_tests.py
+++ b/ttystatus/status_tests.py
@@ -113,6 +113,14 @@ class TerminalStatusTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_has_finish_method(self):
         self.assertEqual(self.ts.finish(), None)
 
+    def test_flushes(self):
+        self.ts._m.time_to_write = lambda: False
+        self.ts.format('%String(foo)')
+        self.ts['foo'] = 'foo'
+        self.assertEqual(self.ts._m.written.getvalue(), '')
+        self.ts.flush()
+        self.assertEqual(self.ts._m.written.getvalue(), 'foo')
+
     def test_disable_calls_messager_disable(self):
         self.ts.disable()
         self.assertFalse(self.ts._m.enabled)