- get width and height of console
     - works on linux,os x,windows,cygwin(windows)
     originally retrieved from:
     http://stackoverflow.com/questions/566746/how-to-get-console-window-width-in-python

def get_size():
    """
     - get width and height of console
     - works on linux,os x,windows,cygwin(windows)
     originally retrieved from:
     http://stackoverflow.com/questions/566746/how-to-get-console-window-width-in-python
    """
    current_os = platform.system()
    tuple_xy = None
    if current_os == 'Windows':
        tuple_xy = _get_terminal_size_windows()
        if tuple_xy is None:
            tuple_xy = _get_terminal_size_tput()
            # needed for window's python in cygwin's xterm!
    if current_os in ['Linux', 'Darwin'] or current_os.startswith('CYGWIN'):
        tuple_xy = _get_terminal_size_linux()
    if tuple_xy is None:
        logger.debug("Cannot determine terminal size, use default")
        tuple_xy = (80, 25)      # default value
    return dict(cols = tuple_xy[0], rows = tuple_xy[1])