This entire article is all about showing off cool commands executable in the Linux terminal. This article is aimed at being a one-stop destination for all cool or you can say interesting funny commands in Linux to play.
1. The Matrix Effect: We all can agree on one thing that the falling down text effect from “The Matrix” movie is one of the best scenes involving a terminal style window. Thus, to try and get this effect on a Linux terminal we need to type the following in the terminal window:
sudo apt-get install cmatrix
And after installing it, type:
cmatrix
Output:
Are you feeling like a hacker? To stop it, press ctrl+C or ctrl+Z or close the terminal. This a general method that can be applied to stop the current execution of commands and it is also applicable for all the below commands.
2. Fire: This is a text animation of a fire, that gets rendered onto the terminal window. To get this, first install it by using the following command:
sudo apt install libaa-bin
To see the effect, you can use the below command:
aafire
Output:
3. BB Audio Visual Effect: It combines audio with text animation, quite dope! To get this, first install it by using the following command:
sudo apt install bb
And then execute it by typing:
bb
Output:
4. Steam Locomotive Engine: Choo-choo, A locomotive steam train engine runs across your terminal. To get this effect, use the following command:
sudo apt-get install sl
Now use,
sl
Output:
Drawing a Banner
Drawing a banner in the terminal can take place by 2 methods:
1) Figlet Command: This command is used to make a banner that you may have seen in some terminal UI based programs. To make your very own such banner, first install this using the following command:
sudo apt install figlet
Then type:
figlet Try this now
2) Toilet: This will also draw a banner but with small-sized characters. To make banners this way, first install by using the following command:
sudo apt install toilet
Then type:
toilet wowie
3) Banner: Banner can also be created by this method but it would be limited to only ‘#’ character (refer output), to install, use the following command:
sudo apt install sysvbanner
Now lets the uses of above 3 explained:
banner heyyo!
Output:
Convert Images Into ASCII Art
To convert an image and output it as ASCII art in the terminal, install aview by typing:
sudo apt install aview
Then to finally convert an image named ‘test.png’ into ASCII art, by using the following:
asciiview test.png
Output:
Xcowsay
This code renders a cow that says(in a text bubble) whatever you give it as input. It has a better GUI based cow unlike cowsayTo run cowsay, first install it by using the following command:
sudo apt install xcowsay
You can use it as shown below:
xcowsay Hello! My dear GFG members
You can change this cow with other characters as well!.
Output:
Cowthink
This is just an extension of cowsay, where the cow or other characters thinks what you give it as input. It follows same command structures as cowsay, for example:
cowthink I think GFG is nice characters
(same as cowsay command)
cowthink -f unipony what a wonderful day!
Output:
lolcat
This command can show text in multiple colors and be used in conjunction with other commands as well. To install use the following command:
sudo apt-get install lolcat
Then we can use it by typing:
cowsay -f dragon heyyyy! |lolcat
Output:
Cowsay
This code renders a cow that says(in a text bubble) whatever you give it as input. It can be other animals than cow as well, we will get to it in a minute. To run cowsay, first install it by using the following command:
sudo apt install cowsay
You can use it as shown below:
cowsay Hello! My dear GFG members
You can change this cow with other characters as well!. First, let’s see the list of all available characters by using:
cowsay -l
This shows us a list of all available characters in ‘cowsay’. Now, change characters by using:
cowsay -f ChrName urtext
Example:
cowsay -f dragon Heyyyy!
Output:
Cowthink
This is just an extension of cowsay, where the cow or other characters thinks what you give it as input. It follows same command structures as cowsay, for example:
cowthink I think GFG is nice characters
(same as cowsay command)
cowthink -f unipony what a wonderful day!
Output:
lolcat
This command can show text in multiple colors and be used in conjunction with other commands as well. To install use the following command:
sudo apt-get install lolcat
Then we can use it by typing:
cowsay -f dragon heyyyy! |lolcat
Output:
Random Quotes/Fortunes
Get your fortune for the day or words of confidence and wisdom to change your fortune if it appears bleak from the wise. Install fortune by using the following command:
sudo apt install fortune-mod
Then use:
fortune
To receive a random quote/fortune/joke.
Output:
Note: This command can also be written in conjunction with other command such as:
fortune | cowsay
To be displayed as:
Reverse Texts
We can use ‘rev’ to reverse whatever input we give to the terminal as follows:
Note: Make sure you type rev, then hit enter, then type the text that needs to be reversed.)
Moo
Who doesn’t like an easter egg? See the easter egg of apt-get by typing:
apt-get moo
Output:
Try to enter moo with aptitude:
