Fun Terminal Commands

Because the command line doesn't have to be boring

System Info & Fetchers

Useful ASCII Art
fastfetch
Modern, fast system info display with ASCII art logo. The successor to neofetch - actively maintained and faster.
$ fastfetch
Install: sudo apt install fastfetch
Classic ASCII Art
neofetch
The original system info fetcher. Now abandoned but still beloved. Shows OS, kernel, CPU, GPU, etc. with distro logo.
$ neofetch
Removed from most repos - use fastfetch instead
Useful
screenfetch
Another system info script with ASCII art. Predates neofetch and still works well.
$ screenfetch
Install: sudo apt install screenfetch
Useful
pfetch
Minimal, lightweight system info. Perfect for screenshots when you want something clean and simple.
$ pfetch
Install: sudo apt install pfetch
Useful
cpufetch
Beautiful ASCII art display of your CPU information with detailed specs.
$ cpufetch
Install: sudo apt install cpufetch
Useful
onefetch
Git repository info fetcher. Shows repo stats, languages, contributors with ASCII art.
$ onefetch
Install: sudo apt install onefetch

Visual Effects & Animations

Fun Classic
cmatrix
The Matrix digital rain effect in your terminal. Feel like a hacker! Use -b for bold, -s for screensaver mode.
$ cmatrix -b -C green
Install: sudo apt install cmatrix
Fun Classic
sl
Steam Locomotive - a train runs across your terminal when you mistype 'ls'. A classic Unix joke!
$ sl
Install: sudo apt install sl
Fun
pipes.sh
Animated pipes screensaver. Colorful pipes grow across your terminal. Mesmerizing!
$ pipes.sh
Install: sudo apt install pipes.sh or clone from GitHub
Fun
asciiquarium
An aquarium in your terminal! Watch fish swim by with ASCII art animation.
$ asciiquarium
Install: sudo apt install asciiquarium
Fun
cbonsai
Grow a bonsai tree in your terminal. Each run creates a unique tree!
$ cbonsai -l
Install: sudo apt install cbonsai
Fun
lolcat
Rainbow-ify any text output! Pipe anything through lolcat for fabulous colors.
$ fastfetch | lolcat
Install: sudo apt install lolcat
Fun
aafire
ASCII art fire animation. Watch flames flicker in your terminal.
$ aafire
Install: sudo apt install libaa-bin
Fun
cacafire
Colored ASCII fire animation. More colorful than aafire!
$ cacafire
Install: sudo apt install caca-utils

ASCII Art & Text

Classic ASCII Art
figlet
Create large ASCII text banners. Great for scripts and MOTD messages.
$ figlet "Hello World"
Install: sudo apt install figlet
Fun ASCII Art
toilet
Like figlet but with color support and more fonts. Despite the name, it's useful!
$ toilet -f mono12 -F metal "HACK"
Install: sudo apt install toilet
Classic Fun
cowsay
A cow says your message! Classic Unix fun. Try -f for different animals.
$ cowsay "Moo!"
Install: sudo apt install cowsay
Fun
ponysay
Like cowsay but with My Little Pony characters. For the bronies out there.
$ ponysay "Hello!"
Install: sudo apt install ponysay
Classic Fun
fortune
Display a random quote, joke, or fortune. Combine with cowsay for extra fun!
$ fortune | cowsay
Install: sudo apt install fortune-mod
Useful ASCII Art
jp2a
Convert images to ASCII art. Turn any picture into terminal art!
$ jp2a --color image.jpg
Install: sudo apt install jp2a
Useful
chafa
Display images in terminal with colors. Better image rendering than jp2a.
$ chafa image.png
Install: sudo apt install chafa

Fun Utilities

Fun
cava
Console audio visualizer. See your music in terminal with bars that react to sound!
$ cava
Install: sudo apt install cava
Fun
espeak
Text-to-speech in terminal. Make your computer talk!
$ espeak "Hello human"
Install: sudo apt install espeak
Fun
boxes
Draw ASCII boxes around text. Many styles available!
$ echo "Hello" | boxes -d cat
Install: sudo apt install boxes
Fun
rev
Reverse text. Built into most systems. Fun for secret messages!
$ echo "hello" | rev
Usually pre-installed
Useful
cal
Display a calendar. Try cal -y for full year or cal 2025 for specific year.
$ cal -3
Usually pre-installed
Fun
yes
Outputs a string repeatedly until killed. Surprisingly useful for automation!
$ yes "Hello!" | head -5
Usually pre-installed
Fun
factor
Factorize numbers into primes. Math nerds rejoice!
$ factor 1337
Usually pre-installed
Fun
banner
Print large banner text using # characters. Old school cool.
$ banner "HI"
Install: sudo apt install sysvbanner

Pipe Magic - Combine Commands!

The real power comes from combining these commands with pipes (|). Here are some fun combinations:

fortune | cowsay | lolcat
# Rainbow cow wisdom
figlet "HACKED" | lolcat
# Rainbow hacker banner
cat /etc/passwd | cowsay -f tux
# Tux reads your passwd file
date | figlet | lolcat
# Big rainbow date
curl wttr.in/London 2>/dev/null | head -7
# ASCII weather in terminal!
curl parrot.live
# Dancing party parrot!
telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl
# ASCII Star Wars movie!

Pro Tips

Install multiple at once:
sudo apt install cmatrix sl lolcat figlet cowsay fortune-mod toilet boxes

Add to .bashrc/.zshrc for fun login:
fortune | cowsay -f tux | lolcat

Exit animations: Press Ctrl+C to stop any animation

Screensaver mode: Most animations work great as screensavers!