diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 4c84e38..c1573d7 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         palette,
         // error handling
         errors,
+        // non alternate screen applications
+        direct,
     };
 
     const example = b.option(Examples, "example", "Example to build and/or run. (default: all)") orelse .all;
@@ -73,6 +75,8 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
                     .palette => "examples/styles/palette.zig",
                     // error handling
                     .errors => "examples/errors.zig",
+                    // non-alternate screen
+                    .direct => "examples/direct.zig",
                     .all => unreachable, // should never happen
                 }),
                 .target = target,
diff --git a/examples/continuous.zig b/examples/continuous.zig
index 7f1177f..bb91d0c 100644
--- a/examples/continuous.zig
+++ b/examples/continuous.zig
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     }, spinner.element());
     try container.append(nested_container);
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     var framerate: u64 = 60;
diff --git a/examples/demo.zig b/examples/demo.zig
index d8dab81..d15e82f 100644
--- a/examples/demo.zig
+++ b/examples/demo.zig
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     }, .{}));
     defer container.deinit(); // also de-initializes the children
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     // event loop
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
                 if (key.eql(.{ .cp = 'n', .mod = .{ .ctrl = true } })) {
                     try app.interrupt();
                     renderer.size = .{}; // reset size, such that next resize will cause a full re-draw!
-                    defer app.start() catch @panic("could not start app event loop");
+                    defer app.start(.full) catch @panic("could not start app event loop");
                     var child = std.process.Child.init(&.{"vim"}, allocator);
                     _ = child.spawnAndWait() catch |err| app.postEvent(.{
                         .err = .{
diff --git a/examples/direct.zig b/examples/direct.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6fd4e7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/direct.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+const QuitText = struct {
+    const text = "Press ctrl+c to quit.";
+
+    pub fn element(this: *@This()) App.Element {
+        return .{
+            .ptr = this,
+            .vtable = &.{
+                .minSize = minSize,
+                .content = content,
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    fn minSize(_: *anyopaque, _: *const App.Model, size: zterm.Point) zterm.Point {
+        return .{ .x = size.x, .y = 10 }; // this includes the border
+    }
+
+    pub fn content(ctx: *anyopaque, _: *const App.Model, cells: []zterm.Cell, size: zterm.Point) !void {
+        _ = ctx;
+        assert(cells.len == @as(usize, size.x) * @as(usize, size.y));
+
+        const y = 0;
+        const x = 2;
+        const anchor = (y * size.x) + x;
+
+        for (text, 0..) |cp, idx| {
+            cells[anchor + idx].style.fg = .white;
+            cells[anchor + idx].style.emphasis = &.{ .bold, .underline };
+            cells[anchor + idx].cp = cp;
+
+            // NOTE do not write over the contents of this `Container`'s `Size`
+            if (anchor + idx == cells.len - 1) break;
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+const Prompt = struct {
+    len: u16 = 3,
+    pub fn element(this: *@This()) App.Element {
+        return .{
+            .ptr = this,
+            .vtable = &.{
+                // .minSize = minSize,
+                .content = content,
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    // NOTE size hint is not required as the `.size = .{ .dim = .{..} }` property is set accordingly which denotes the minimal size
+    // fn minSize(ctx: *anyopaque, _: *const App.Model, _: zterm.Point) zterm.Point {
+    //     const this: *@This() = @ptrCast(@alignCast(ctx));
+    //     return .{ .x = this.len, .y = 1 };
+    // }
+
+    pub fn content(ctx: *anyopaque, _: *const App.Model, cells: []zterm.Cell, size: zterm.Point) !void {
+        const this: *@This() = @ptrCast(@alignCast(ctx));
+        assert(cells.len > 2); // expect at least two cells
+        assert(cells.len == @as(usize, size.x) * @as(usize, size.y));
+
+        for (0..this.len) |idx| {
+            cells[idx].style.bg = .blue;
+            cells[idx].style.fg = .black;
+            cells[idx].style.emphasis = &.{.bold};
+        }
+        cells[1].cp = '>';
+        // leave one clear whitespace after the prompt
+        cells[this.len].style.bg = .default;
+        cells[this.len].style.cursor = true; // marks the actual end of the rendering!
+    }
+};
+
+pub fn main() !void {
+    errdefer |err| log.err("Application Error: {any}", .{err});
+
+    var allocator: std.heap.DebugAllocator(.{}) = .init;
+    defer if (allocator.deinit() == .leak) log.err("memory leak", .{});
+
+    const gpa = allocator.allocator();
+
+    var app: App = .init(.{}, .{});
+    var renderer = zterm.Renderer.Direct.init(gpa);
+    defer renderer.deinit();
+
+    var container: App.Container = try .init(gpa, .{
+        .layout = .{
+            .direction = .vertical,
+            .gap = 1, // show empty line between elements to allow navigation through paragraph jumping
+        },
+        .size = .{
+            .grow = .horizontal_only,
+        },
+    }, .{});
+    defer container.deinit();
+
+    var quit_text: QuitText = .{};
+    var intermediate: App.Container = try .init(gpa, .{
+        .border = .{
+            .sides = .{ .left = true },
+            .color = .grey,
+        },
+        .layout = .{
+            .direction = .horizontal,
+            .padding = .{ .left = 1, .top = 1 },
+        },
+    }, quit_text.element());
+    try intermediate.append(try .init(gpa, .{
+        .rectangle = .{ .fill = .blue },
+    }, .{}));
+
+    try intermediate.append(try .init(gpa, .{
+        .rectangle = .{ .fill = .green },
+    }, .{}));
+
+    var padding_container: App.Container = try .init(gpa, .{
+        .layout = .{
+            .padding = .horizontal(1),
+        },
+    }, .{});
+    try padding_container.append(intermediate);
+    try container.append(padding_container);
+
+    var prompt: Prompt = .{};
+    try container.append(try .init(gpa, .{
+        .rectangle = .{ .fill = .grey },
+        .size = .{
+            .dim = .{ .y = 1 },
+        },
+    }, prompt.element()));
+
+    try app.start(.direct); // needs to become configurable, as what should be enabled / disabled (i.e. show cursor, hide cursor, use alternate screen, etc.)
+    defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
+
+    // event loop
+    event: while (true) {
+        // batch events since last iteration
+        const len = blk: {
+            app.queue.poll();
+            app.queue.lock();
+            defer app.queue.unlock();
+            break :blk app.queue.len();
+        };
+
+        // handle events
+        for (0..len) |_| {
+            const event = app.queue.pop();
+            log.debug("received event: {s}", .{@tagName(event)});
+
+            // pre event handling
+            switch (event) {
+                // NOTE maybe I want to decouple the `key`s from the user input too? i.e. this only makes sense if the output is not echoed!
+                // otherwise just use gnu's `readline`?
+                .line => |line| {
+                    log.debug("{s}", .{line});
+                },
+                // NOTE errors could be displayed in another container in case one was received, etc. to provide the user with feedback
+                .err => |err| log.err("Received {s} with message: {s}", .{ @errorName(err.err), err.msg }),
+                else => {},
+            }
+
+            // NOTE returned errors should be propagated back to the application
+            container.handle(&app.model, event) catch |err| app.postEvent(.{
+                .err = .{
+                    .err = err,
+                    .msg = "Container Event handling failed",
+                },
+            });
+
+            // post event handling
+            switch (event) {
+                .quit => break :event,
+                else => {},
+            }
+        }
+        // if there are more events to process continue handling them otherwise I can render the next frame
+        if (app.queue.len() > 0) continue :event;
+
+        container.resize(&app.model, try renderer.resize());
+        container.reposition(&app.model, .{});
+        try renderer.render(@TypeOf(container), &container, App.Model, &app.model);
+        try renderer.flush();
+    }
+}
+
+pub const panic = App.panic_handler;
+const log = std.log.scoped(.default);
+
+const std = @import("std");
+const assert = std.debug.assert;
+const zterm = @import("zterm");
+const input = zterm.input;
+const App = zterm.App(struct {}, union(enum) {});
diff --git a/examples/elements/alignment.zig b/examples/elements/alignment.zig
index 3a35bcd..a96ed90 100644
--- a/examples/elements/alignment.zig
+++ b/examples/elements/alignment.zig
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     var alignment: App.Alignment = .init(quit_container, .center);
     try container.append(try .init(allocator, .{}, alignment.element()));
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     // event loop
diff --git a/examples/elements/button.zig b/examples/elements/button.zig
index e150ae8..4214177 100644
--- a/examples/elements/button.zig
+++ b/examples/elements/button.zig
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     try container.append(try App.Container.init(allocator, .{ .rectangle = .{ .fill = .lightgrey } }, element));
     try container.append(try App.Container.init(allocator, .{ .rectangle = .{ .fill = .black } }, button.element()));
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     // event loop
diff --git a/examples/elements/input.zig b/examples/elements/input.zig
index bf04e3d..cd2e782 100644
--- a/examples/elements/input.zig
+++ b/examples/elements/input.zig
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     }, second_mouse_draw.element()));
     try container.append(nested_container);
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     // event loop
diff --git a/examples/elements/progress.zig b/examples/elements/progress.zig
index dd899f4..1023637 100644
--- a/examples/elements/progress.zig
+++ b/examples/elements/progress.zig
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
         });
         try container.append(try App.Container.init(allocator, .{}, progress.element()));
     }
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     var framerate: u64 = 60;
diff --git a/examples/elements/radio-button.zig b/examples/elements/radio-button.zig
index 15b882d..abcdf9d 100644
--- a/examples/elements/radio-button.zig
+++ b/examples/elements/radio-button.zig
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     try container.append(try .init(allocator, .{}, radiobutton.element()));
     try container.append(try App.Container.init(allocator, .{ .rectangle = .{ .fill = .black } }, button.element()));
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     // event loop
diff --git a/examples/elements/scrollable.zig b/examples/elements/scrollable.zig
index ebb6305..a02a37b 100644
--- a/examples/elements/scrollable.zig
+++ b/examples/elements/scrollable.zig
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     var scrollable_bottom: App.Scrollable = .init(bottom_box, .enabled(.white, true));
     try container.append(try App.Container.init(allocator, .{}, scrollable_bottom.element()));
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     // event loop
diff --git a/examples/elements/selection.zig b/examples/elements/selection.zig
index c19a910..4d5f611 100644
--- a/examples/elements/selection.zig
+++ b/examples/elements/selection.zig
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     defer container.deinit();
     try container.append(try .init(allocator, .{}, selection.element()));
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     // event loop
diff --git a/examples/errors.zig b/examples/errors.zig
index 3a7bffb..91f1bac 100644
--- a/examples/errors.zig
+++ b/examples/errors.zig
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     try container.append(try App.Container.init(allocator, .{}, info_text.element()));
     try container.append(try App.Container.init(allocator, .{}, error_notification.element()));
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     while (true) {
diff --git a/examples/layouts/grid.zig b/examples/layouts/grid.zig
index f6f3f08..5c73d25 100644
--- a/examples/layouts/grid.zig
+++ b/examples/layouts/grid.zig
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     }
     defer container.deinit(); // also de-initializes the children
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     // event loop
diff --git a/examples/layouts/horizontal.zig b/examples/layouts/horizontal.zig
index 06c6154..116571e 100644
--- a/examples/layouts/horizontal.zig
+++ b/examples/layouts/horizontal.zig
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     }, .{}));
     defer container.deinit(); // also de-initializes the children
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     // event loop
diff --git a/examples/layouts/mixed.zig b/examples/layouts/mixed.zig
index c5bb09e..5ab93e3 100644
--- a/examples/layouts/mixed.zig
+++ b/examples/layouts/mixed.zig
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     }
     defer container.deinit(); // also de-initializes the children
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     // event loop
diff --git a/examples/layouts/vertical.zig b/examples/layouts/vertical.zig
index fc5c6b3..a828256 100644
--- a/examples/layouts/vertical.zig
+++ b/examples/layouts/vertical.zig
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     }, .{}));
     defer container.deinit(); // also de-initializes the children
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     // event loop
diff --git a/examples/styles/palette.zig b/examples/styles/palette.zig
index 63ceb6c..d0e06cd 100644
--- a/examples/styles/palette.zig
+++ b/examples/styles/palette.zig
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     var scrollable: App.Scrollable = .init(box, .disabled);
     try container.append(try App.Container.init(allocator, .{}, scrollable.element()));
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     while (true) {
diff --git a/examples/styles/text.zig b/examples/styles/text.zig
index f0f01b8..58f94ac 100644
--- a/examples/styles/text.zig
+++ b/examples/styles/text.zig
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     }, text_styles.element()), .enabled(.white, true));
     try container.append(try App.Container.init(allocator, .{}, scrollable.element()));
 
-    try app.start();
+    try app.start(.full);
     defer app.stop() catch |err| log.err("Failed to stop application: {any}", .{err});
 
     // event loop
diff --git a/src/app.zig b/src/app.zig
index 92e9eae..9acc49e 100644
--- a/src/app.zig
+++ b/src/app.zig
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 ///   );
 ///   // later on create an `App` instance and start the event loop
 ///   var app: App = .init(io, .{}); // provide instance of the `std.Io` and `App` model that shall be used
-///   try app.start();
+///   try app.start(.full);
 ///   defer app.stop() catch unreachable; // does not clean-up the resources used in the model
 /// ```
 pub fn App(comptime M: type, comptime E: type) type {
@@ -30,7 +30,29 @@ pub fn App(comptime M: type, comptime E: type) type {
         thread: ?Thread = null,
         quit_event: Thread.ResetEvent,
         termios: ?posix.termios = null,
-        winch_registered: bool = false,
+        handler_registered: bool = false,
+        config: TerminalConfiguration,
+
+        pub const TerminalConfiguration = struct {
+            altScreen: bool,
+            saveScreen: bool,
+            rawMode: bool,
+            hideCursor: bool,
+
+            pub const full: @This() = .{
+                .altScreen = true,
+                .saveScreen = true,
+                .rawMode = true,
+                .hideCursor = true,
+            };
+
+            pub const direct: @This() = .{
+                .altScreen = false,
+                .saveScreen = false,
+                .rawMode = false,
+                .hideCursor = false,
+            };
+        };
 
         // global variable for the registered handler for WINCH
         var handler_ctx: *anyopaque = undefined;
@@ -41,6 +63,13 @@ pub fn App(comptime M: type, comptime E: type) type {
             // -> the signal might not work correctly when hosting the application over ssh!
             this.postEvent(.resize);
         }
+        /// registered CONT handler to force a complete redraw
+        fn handleCont(_: i32) callconv(.c) void {
+            const this: *@This() = @ptrCast(@alignCast(handler_ctx));
+            // NOTE this does not have to be done if in-band resize events are supported
+            // -> the signal might not work correctly when hosting the application over ssh!
+            this.postEvent(.resize);
+        }
 
         pub fn init(io: std.Io, model: Model) @This() {
             return .{
@@ -48,44 +77,50 @@ pub fn App(comptime M: type, comptime E: type) type {
                 .model = model,
                 .queue = .{},
                 .quit_event = .{},
+                .config = undefined,
             };
         }
 
-        pub fn start(this: *@This()) !void {
+        pub fn start(this: *@This(), config: TerminalConfiguration) !void {
+            this.config = config;
             if (this.thread) |_| return;
 
             // post init event (as the very first element to be in the queue - event loop)
             this.postEvent(.init);
 
-            if (!this.winch_registered) {
+            if (!this.handler_registered) {
                 handler_ctx = this;
-                var act = posix.Sigaction{
+                posix.sigaction(posix.SIG.WINCH, &.{
                     .handler = .{ .handler = handleWinch },
                     .mask = posix.sigemptyset(),
                     .flags = 0,
-                };
-                posix.sigaction(posix.SIG.WINCH, &act, null);
-                this.winch_registered = true;
+                }, null);
+                posix.sigaction(posix.SIG.CONT, &.{
+                    .handler = .{ .handler = handleCont },
+                    .mask = posix.sigemptyset(),
+                    .flags = 0,
+                }, null);
+                this.handler_registered = true;
             }
 
             this.quit_event.reset();
             this.thread = try Thread.spawn(.{}, @This().run, .{this});
 
             var termios: posix.termios = undefined;
-            try terminal.enableRawMode(&termios);
+            if (this.config.rawMode) try terminal.enableRawMode(&termios);
             if (this.termios) |_| {} else this.termios = termios;
 
-            try terminal.enterAltScreen();
-            try terminal.saveScreen();
-            try terminal.hideCursor();
-            try terminal.enableMouseSupport();
+            if (this.config.altScreen) try terminal.enterAltScreen();
+            if (this.config.saveScreen) try terminal.saveScreen();
+            if (this.config.hideCursor) try terminal.hideCursor();
+            if (this.config.altScreen and this.config.rawMode) try terminal.enableMouseSupport();
         }
 
         pub fn interrupt(this: *@This()) !void {
             this.quit_event.set();
-            try terminal.disableMouseSupport();
-            try terminal.restoreScreen();
-            try terminal.exitAltScreen();
+            if (this.config.altScreen and this.config.rawMode) try terminal.disableMouseSupport();
+            if (this.config.saveScreen) try terminal.restoreScreen();
+            if (this.config.altScreen) try terminal.exitAltScreen();
             if (this.thread) |*thread| {
                 thread.join();
                 this.thread = null;
@@ -94,13 +129,10 @@ pub fn App(comptime M: type, comptime E: type) type {
 
         pub fn stop(this: *@This()) !void {
             try this.interrupt();
+            if (this.config.hideCursor) try terminal.showCursor();
+            if (this.config.saveScreen) try terminal.resetCursor();
             if (this.termios) |termios| {
-                try terminal.disableMouseSupport();
-                try terminal.showCursor();
-                try terminal.resetCursor();
-                try terminal.restoreScreen();
-                try terminal.disableRawMode(&termios);
-                try terminal.exitAltScreen();
+                if (this.config.rawMode) try terminal.disableRawMode(&termios);
                 this.termios = null;
             }
         }
@@ -416,9 +448,14 @@ pub fn App(comptime M: type, comptime E: type) type {
                                 var len = read_bytes;
                                 while (!std.unicode.utf8ValidateSlice(buf[0..len])) len -= 1;
                                 remaining_bytes = read_bytes - len;
-                                var iter: std.unicode.Utf8Iterator = .{ .bytes = buf[0..len], .i = 0 };
-                                while (iter.nextCodepoint()) |cp| this.postEvent(.{ .key = .{ .cp = cp } });
-                                continue;
+                                if (this.config.rawMode) {
+                                    var iter: std.unicode.Utf8Iterator = .{ .bytes = buf[0..len], .i = 0 };
+                                    while (iter.nextCodepoint()) |cp| this.postEvent(.{ .key = .{ .cp = cp } });
+                                    continue;
+                                } else {
+                                    this.postEvent(.{ .line = buf[0..len] });
+                                    continue;
+                                }
                             },
                         };
                         this.postEvent(.{ .key = key });
diff --git a/src/container.zig b/src/container.zig
index 1a0b069..5afd7d1 100644
--- a/src/container.zig
+++ b/src/container.zig
@@ -764,23 +764,31 @@ pub fn Container(Model: type, Event: type) type {
 
             const sides = this.properties.border.sides;
             switch (layout.direction) {
-                .horizontal => {
+                .vertical => {
                     if (sides.top) {
-                        available -|= 1;
                         remainder -|= 1;
                     }
                     if (sides.bottom) {
-                        available -|= 1;
                         remainder -|= 1;
                     }
-                },
-                .vertical => {
                     if (sides.left) {
                         available -|= 1;
-                        remainder -|= 1;
                     }
                     if (sides.right) {
                         available -|= 1;
+                    }
+                },
+                .horizontal => {
+                    if (sides.top) {
+                        available -|= 1;
+                    }
+                    if (sides.bottom) {
+                        available -|= 1;
+                    }
+                    if (sides.left) {
+                        remainder -|= 1;
+                    }
+                    if (sides.right) {
                         remainder -|= 1;
                     }
                 },
@@ -815,7 +823,7 @@ pub fn Container(Model: type, Event: type) type {
                     .horizontal => if (child.properties.size.grow == .vertical or child.properties.size.grow == .vertical_only or child.properties.size.grow == .both) {
                         child.size.y = available;
                     },
-                    .vertical => if (child.properties.size.grow == .horizontal or child.properties.size.grow == .vertical_only or child.properties.size.grow == .both) {
+                    .vertical => if (child.properties.size.grow == .horizontal or child.properties.size.grow == .horizontal_only or child.properties.size.grow == .both) {
                         child.size.x = available;
                     },
                 }
@@ -862,23 +870,23 @@ pub fn Container(Model: type, Event: type) type {
                     };
                     if (child.properties.size.grow != .fixed and child_size == smallest_size) {
                         switch (layout.direction) {
-                            .horizontal => if (child.properties.size.grow != .vertical) {
+                            .horizontal => if (child.properties.size.grow != .vertical and child.properties.size.grow != .vertical_only) {
                                 child.size.x += size_to_correct;
                                 remainder -|= size_to_correct;
                             },
-                            .vertical => if (child.properties.size.grow != .horizontal) {
+                            .vertical => if (child.properties.size.grow != .horizontal and child.properties.size.grow != .horizontal_only) {
                                 child.size.y += size_to_correct;
                                 remainder -|= size_to_correct;
                             },
                         }
                         if (overflow > 0) {
                             switch (layout.direction) {
-                                .horizontal => if (child.properties.size.grow != .vertical) {
+                                .horizontal => if (child.properties.size.grow != .vertical and child.properties.size.grow != .vertical_only) {
                                     child.size.x += 1;
                                     overflow -|= 1;
                                     remainder -|= 1;
                                 },
-                                .vertical => if (child.properties.size.grow != .horizontal) {
+                                .vertical => if (child.properties.size.grow != .horizontal and child.properties.size.grow != .horizontal_only) {
                                     child.size.y += 1;
                                     overflow -|= 1;
                                     remainder -|= 1;
diff --git a/src/event.zig b/src/event.zig
index e97cb67..ed0d1f6 100644
--- a/src/event.zig
+++ b/src/event.zig
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ pub const SystemEvent = union(enum) {
         /// associated error message
         msg: []const u8,
     },
+    /// Input line event received in non *raw mode* (instead of individual `key` events)
+    line: []const u8,
     /// Input key event received from the user
     key: Key,
     /// Mouse input event
diff --git a/src/render.zig b/src/render.zig
index 74f167d..4c3e01e 100644
--- a/src/render.zig
+++ b/src/render.zig
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ pub const Buffered = struct {
         var writer = terminal.writer();
         const s = this.screen;
         const vs = this.virtual_screen;
+
         for (0..this.size.y) |row| {
             for (0..this.size.x) |col| {
                 const idx = (row * this.size.x) + col;
@@ -123,6 +124,85 @@ pub const Buffered = struct {
     }
 };
 
+pub const Direct = struct {
+    gpa: Allocator,
+    size: Point,
+    resized: bool,
+    screen: []Cell,
+
+    pub fn init(gpa: Allocator) @This() {
+        return .{
+            .gpa = gpa,
+            .size = .{},
+            .resized = true,
+            .screen = undefined,
+        };
+    }
+
+    pub fn deinit(this: *@This()) void {
+        this.gpa.free(this.screen);
+    }
+
+    pub fn resize(this: *@This()) !Point {
+        this.size = .{};
+        if (!this.resized) {
+            this.gpa.free(this.screen);
+            this.screen = undefined;
+        }
+        this.resized = true;
+        return terminal.getTerminalSize();
+    }
+
+    pub fn clear(this: *@This()) !void {
+        _ = this;
+        try terminal.clearScreen();
+    }
+
+    /// Render provided cells at size (anchor and dimension) into the *screen*.
+    pub fn render(this: *@This(), comptime Container: type, container: *Container, comptime Model: type, model: *const Model) !void {
+        const size: Point = container.size;
+        const origin: Point = container.origin;
+
+        if (this.resized) {
+            this.size = size;
+            const n = @as(usize, this.size.x) * @as(usize, this.size.y);
+            this.screen = try this.gpa.alloc(Cell, n);
+            @memset(this.screen, .{});
+            this.resized = false;
+        }
+
+        const cells: []const Cell = try container.content(model);
+
+        var idx: usize = 0;
+        var vs = this.screen;
+        const anchor: usize = (@as(usize, origin.y) * @as(usize, this.size.x)) + @as(usize, origin.x);
+
+        blk: for (0..size.y) |row| {
+            for (0..size.x) |col| {
+                vs[anchor + (row * this.size.x) + col] = cells[idx];
+                idx += 1;
+
+                if (cells.len == idx) break :blk;
+            }
+        }
+        // free immediately
+        container.allocator.free(cells);
+        for (container.elements.items) |*element| try this.render(Container, element, Model, model);
+    }
+
+    pub fn flush(this: *@This()) !void {
+        var writer = terminal.writer();
+        for (0..this.size.y) |row| {
+            for (0..this.size.x) |col| {
+                const idx = (row * this.size.x) + col;
+                const cvs = this.screen[idx];
+                try cvs.value(&writer);
+                if (cvs.style.cursor) return; // that's where the cursor should be left!
+            }
+        }
+    }
+};
+
 const std = @import("std");
 const meta = std.meta;
 const assert = std.debug.assert;
diff --git a/src/terminal.zig b/src/terminal.zig
index 6d7811b..38bd78d 100644
--- a/src/terminal.zig
+++ b/src/terminal.zig
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ pub fn setCursorPosition(pos: Point) !void {
     _ = try posix.write(posix.STDIN_FILENO, value);
 }
 
-pub fn getCursorPosition() !Size.Position {
+pub fn getCursorPosition() !Size {
     // Needs Raw mode (no wait for \n) to work properly cause
     // control sequence will not be written without it.
     _ = try posix.write(posix.STDIN_FILENO, "\x1b[6n");