Five Ways To Have Fun With The Command Line

Updated on October 7, 2015
Five Ways To Have Fun With The Command Line header image

Once in a while, you maybe wanna entertain yourself through all the updating, maintenance, and configuration tasks of being a system administrator. Linux has quite some popular programs, available in many repositories... so, here are five ways to have some fun while working at the command line!

sl

A train going through your terminal.

Installation: apt-get install sl or yum -y install sl

                                                      (@@) (  ) (@)  ( )  @@    ()    @     O     @     O      @
                                                     (   )
                                                 (@@@@)
                                              (    )

                                            (@@@)
                                         ====        ________                ___________
                                     _D _|  |_______/        \__I_I_____===__|_________|
                                      |(_)---  |   H\________/ |   |        =|___ ___|      _________________
                                      /     |  |   H  |  |     |   |         ||_| |_||     _|                \_____A
                                     |      |  |   H  |__--------------------| [___] |   =|                        |
                                     | ________|___H__/__|_____/[][]~\_______|       |   -|                        |
                                     |/ |   |-----------I_____I [][] []  D   |=======|____|________________________|_
                                   __/ =| o |=-~~\  /~~\  /~~\  /~~\ ____Y___________|__|__________________________|_
                                    |/-=|___|=   O=====O=====O=====O|_____/~\___/          |_D__D__D_|  |_D__D__D_|
                                     \_/      \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/      \_/               \_/   \_/    \_/   \_/

fortune

A random joke.

Installation: apt-get install fortune or yum install fortune

root@host:~# fortune
Q:	What's a light-year?
A:	One-third less calories than a regular year.

toilet

Generate ASCII art from the terminal.

Installation: apt-get install toilet or yum install toilet

root@host:~# toilet VULTR
                               
 m    m m    m m     mmmmmmm mmmmm 
 "m  m" #    # #        #    #   "#
  #  #  #    # #        #    #mmmm"
  "mm"  #    # #        #    #   "m
   ##   "mmmm" #mmmmm   #    #    "
                               
                               

cmatrix

Run a Matrix program like they do in the movie.

Installation: apt-get install cmatrix

root@host:~# cmatrix

   {   ) ^ M B   u p }     W t ^   X f         j   o       G         =   # c   x {     ) 0 X , '         W L [ N G   R V   J   3 7 a     6 ^ r _ + %     o     Y ' P   A V       H     N r   G   t 7 F V   ] F ; 
   *   w   L } t !   0 T &     W E '   ?           }   %       0         3   G d   h n     :   # = G         f k y k 7   0 F   3   k 9 }     " | A 6 j M     X     b 3 Z   b 0       v     } P   p   Z v ? k   E % & 
   t   3   q g @ K   } f z     r p p   ]           )   v       {         W   k D   O c     a   j   .         i ( k v F   + 1   t   > G Z     ) h )   / t     :     D Y y   p =       x       _   H   = l U C   k & p 
   5   =     r c }   g 1 "     R % g   \               <       R         k   5 l   k 3     -   +   l         .   [   Q   ^ g   y   R e )     a ' ]   j o     q   [ q H 0   R =       `       )   9   ! c P L   b j   
   "   6     % * =   * x q     4 m o   q               x       #         w   ^ H   4 e     b   ,   $         2   y   Y   C ]   4 s U ( -     M 3 )   : p     p   W M 5 D   { H       :       Q       R O ` 8   @ y   
   c   ?     8 k Y   j a o     @ J r   x               7       X n       C   B q   0 X     4   ,   8         .   1   e   0 v   h ^ O " t     , C X   _ C     /   U ^ o O   : W       [       8       } v /     T L   t
   w   .     l 4 u   # = R       T 6   '               t       O K       v   ^ j   G w     @   y   +     M   W   F   >   Z j   - 4 M J 9   I m G M   f h     J   ) V . D   ) U       \       ]       ; ( $     y L   }
   9   I     9 ` "   " . n   }   2 7   (               z       V D       I   5 b   1 )     _   d   .     A   I   .   3   m #   M [ : j !   <   & _   b R     x   5 l k F   q +       v t     .       > 8 "     ] 8   \
   +   t     i c {   P d <   :     S   9               h   4   f Q       ;   } B   T @     4   '   5     P   I   v   >   # F   Z x z / [   0   k e   [           > " ] 6   K M       S H     O       X Z (   ` \ `   2
   (   v     @ ^ G   h ( -   /     1   H               6   b   { ?           j c     A         _         D   !   s   "   ; ^   k ; I S W   G   P %   <           c % z , i # o       B C     K       Z u /   4 f ^   Z
   *   (     ' o X   / d Q   n     ?   5               0   1   r 6           . |     j         N         [   E   L       W v   9 = 6 $ *   C   3 u   7           Y k   9 Y V =       P +             q ` w   W @ 9   ^
   u   p     v P 5     u * ; j     o   o               I   l   : x           ] }               E         t   _   1       J Z   * ( C V <   h   } X   (           d K   _ 9 b X       o |             U K &   : X /   I
   v   %     C &       m y 9 }         g       W       p   A   ` -           } -               #       ? 8   5   c       , ?   K B c M $   F   b o   ]           & t   ? K + l       9 D             H + _   p 9 w   z
   p   S     6 x       _ : Q w         $       {       @   6   h f           [ #         N     d       P <   #   [       z }   J 4 / = N   F   t &   H           l 5   " , 6 J       Y \             D Y |   3 _ K   a
   t O ;     Z {       } m / h         [       Y c     9   t   O P             h         ^     d       E T       U       c 2   N + v M d   !   ! %   2           O J   @   % T       p B             " F +   } 5 b   
   3 d 8     U %       } ; 4           \       7 9     7   ^   < -             z         +     F     ] @ f       U       + <   H h 5 r s   "   % b   #           < F   E   = 8       1 F             ] e Q   2 r q   
   ] ) e     I         a @ %           *       k @     q   r   G U             S         %     }     e I ]       v       3 \   S " g a x   p     ;   o           h -       ` K       ` *             j 0 a   r M 5   
   ] V 2     c         q z 1           (       T J     d   !     J     9       #         U     x     3 Y L       ?       Z V   @ y 2 3 +   x     "   3           # O       j :       + o       !     P D K   W G "   
   & 1 +     N         ! K (           ]       " &     {   v     z     b       !         -     J     P q !   D   k       # ,   " O \ ' 5   %     U   x           i ,       q 6       K X       P     u ^ R   , = S   
   s D G     <         L ] D           -     ; W f     H   9     N     #       l       r W     :     ^ H 8   h   `       V v r U O { J +   n     5   E         6 u y       J K         #       &     q ` T   2 L +   
   ; : Y     %         C   /           Y     6 { :     e   j     )     #       &       s _     V t   O C V   h   r   z   0 B # 0 - ! E ?   v     2   s         l x ,       & Y         x       l     L w W   p ` ' $ 
   H N |     }         l   =     J 1   f     z $ w     k   =     = Q   b       w       } S     + 6   o j 0   w   &   (   5 M V ! I Z S y   f     8   j         { { ^       O ,         @       -   p | a =   ] _ e t 
   * 8 s }   8             B     6 (   :     p v M     x   P T   M ^   b       $ d     y 2     V L   t z [   r   C   y I L 7 L 9 7 < h )   o     R   L         K , 9       + X         \       ^   ?   N L   % ^ 7 @ 
   F [ i W   A             +     j N   U     : x G     ;   ! (   N n   Z       J 0     j ^     8 T   ] ) `   .   2   - < \ 0 [ ( [ : 9 !   y     :   L       D a i n       1 $         h       &   b   & b   * X 7 i 
   I u I ^   C             :     R Y   H     u ! 1     N   j q   h -   (       ) e     ; u     / 4   D * _   H   T   T b J M : ] V A " $   x     c   B       ^ s # K         % I       q       z   W     y   y m = K 
   P s ? J   P             ^     A /   ^     S 8 x     a   9 +     R   `       e c     p U     r <   5 j m   F   k   _ : T h ! ' o T * %   #     '   =       o i $ }         i =       H       y   u         ? Q K * 
   * e G H   A         =   !     S +   ?     I T X     ) 1 J (     p   0       k 1     n o     v 6   D r .   T   T   P y c H U [ g 0 \ e   w     ,   O       ' B J h         4 `       @       _             i / 9 b 
   n c + e   2     *   6   X     0 D   {     p E t     v W ; |     '   "       3 !     & <     k n   f i Q   I   M   1 b q f f I u 0 + 0   d     S   U       F i ? 1         h T       #       o             ' h N 3 
   t Q u }   $     z   e         5 ]   K     n j w     e G ) 2     Z   V       G J     , B     o z   r p b   3   ,   u F O ( X 1   & # (   `     P   2       6 ) O C         + H       f       }             a N ^ a 
   z ' D @   Q     Q   )         - (   J     c : f     ] . w F     >   $     ) 6 1     - A     W )   D ) o   H   Q   ! d p @ { [   z z :   ?     M           H # M 7           |       i       $             @ & s F 
   L i   g   %     -   y         c W   2     L @ f     V   j G     L         ) i W r   s J       ;   ) q 0   ]   "   Q g / ] ; 2   n w     &     ]           f Q D |           -       {       k             h } P f 
   f d   }   d     s   3         R Q   L     O 4 y     c   " 8     v         % E 8 \   5 U       "   v X ?   S   V   K k z   6 .   7 _     Y     6           + [ z b           9       w       , {           / V 4 X 
   [ |   g   '     %   /         < 8   m     q : '     v   t T     f         C N } O   ! @       f   l n i ! 3   ,   t Z e   q '   R 4     *     -           H n F c           |       c       N d           p P , 7 
   t f   l   =     $   ;         ^ '   P     W T 3 ^   _   X 0     M J       k r Y s   3 g       t   n . < % |   r p G % 1   E u   8 f     C     M           z F * G           X       [   %     G           / S M 2 
   P Q   B   x     g   S         d 6   >     u f   N   I   ! :     K 9       \ H 3 )   F Y       1   + 3 b F i   x [ M Y C   a T   I -     M     8           N / B "           V       b ^ ^     i           X F e s 
   * L   :   }     _   y         + X   '     R b   I   A   & 4     3 }     W ` A k -   < k       U   M O , ; l   % P ` N d   $ Q   f U           h           0 - E `           D       m y I     5           E 2 b H 
   H n   m   )     2   f         M F   Z     ( ?   o   %   Y [     ? a     9 < ) B !   G %       $   i n M R U   s C X 5 s   : P   7 r           6       H   8 q & n           h       B [ X     3           |   8 . 
   R _   %   =     %   p         % K   N     # >   d   B   e z     x f     ) ? + Q 4   Y z       o   9 1 } 6 [   5 6 i \ ]   2 {   C c           {       K   O ( D P           k       1 \ s     +           u   d f 
   e 2   d   a     P   )   a     ; ?   P     9 #   K   <   Z d     & }     k 8 h i ! 4 4 V       y   $ \ - N b   ^ g F 6 B   W X   U P           b       w   F ' W l           K       d ? ]     U           \   H 3 
   _ }       ?     4   V   -     u =   !     p x   _       = X     u $     C | e i J q h 2       A   ] ' m [ 9   _ ] = T -   p )   ) z           d       6   S k A W           @       8 ! f     O           F t 2 F U
   _ #       _     J   *   "     v     F     x E   <       @ R     d n     X ] B & Q [ ' P       f Z s L H X 4   8 ( A ; _   S C   D U           [       [   Z S & <           m       N S E     U           ; z a w $
   L G       d     3   o   /     |           h \   "       T :     # h       p   : X 8 ] 7       k R g ' } 5 o   e / 1 [ 6     x   g                         7 l D             l i \   # ^ l     B        

This can cause heavy load on a server though, so make sure you don't execute this in a production environment.

aafire

Set the command line terminal on fire!

Installation: apt-get install libaa-bin

root@host:~# aafire

                                                    .. ..                                                                                                                            . ..  .:=+iiIvvvII+:.
                                    . .. .. .. . .  . .                                  . .                                                                     . .     . .. ..  .  ..:=+iIvvvvi|=-.
                                    .  .  .  . ---:::-.                               ..-::..            . ....           . .. .                                 . . .. . -:-.  .   . .-=+|InnnI|=:. . .       .. ..
                                    .  .  .....-:=++|+:... .                        . ..=++:- .       . .:=|i|=:..       .:+|=:.. .. .. .                    . . .  .   ..::-- .       .:+|InSnnI|+=:-... .. ..  .  .
                                    .  . ..:::::==+||i||+==::.. .     . ..----.. ..   .-=+++=-. .   . .:|vSXSSSI|-.     ..+InI|=. . .---. .        . ... .. .  .... . .  -:==:. .     ..=|inSSXSnnIi|++=:-........ ..
                                . . .  . .-:=++||iiIInvvvvvnI|=::-:::-:=+iIvvIi|+=-.. ..-:==+:-  . ..:|vSZ###ZZSI+.      -+vSnni+:=:=|||+:-.. .. ..-:==+=::-----::--------==++=:-... ...=ivnSXXXZZXSnnvIi|++::-===:.
                             .-::::-....:==+||inSSSnSSSSSXXSSnvIIIIIIIvnXZ###:#ZZSI+-. .. ..-::-...:=inSZ#::###SI+-.    ..|vSZXnvIIIvvnnIi|++++=+|iInnnvvIi++:-    :+++======||iIvvvvi|=:::=|ISnSXXXZZ:###XXSXnvIi|||+=- .
                           .:|IvnnvI|===+|iiInXZ:#:#ZZXZ###XXXSSSSSSXXZ##::WQQQWW:Zn+. .  .. ... ..:+ISX#:W:W::XI+..     -|nZ##ZZXSXXXXSSSnSnnXXZZZ#::##ZSnI+=--    :=+|+||iIvnnSZ####XSvi|iIvnnnXXXZ###########XXSvnI+:.
                          .=iX##::#ZZXvnvvvnXZ:WQ;QQQ:::###ZXSnnSXZ##::WWQQQ=Q=QQW:ZI=.  .  . .. ..-=iS#:WQWW:#Si=.    .-+vX#:::####XXXSXZZZ###:WQQQQQWW##Svi+:-    =+|iIvnSXXZ##::WW::#SvIIIIIvnnnSSSXZ::WWWW::##ZXSv|=. .
                        .-|vX#:WWWWW:::#Z#Z##WQ======QQW::#XSnnnnZ::QQQ;Q;;=Q;;QQW:Zn+-.  .  .  .  -+vX#WQQQW:Zv+- . -    :+ISZ::W::::#ZXXXSZ####:WQ;;==;;QQ:#ZSv|||ivnSXZ#::::WWWQQW::ZnI||||iiIIIIvvnX::WWQQQQW::#Xvi=-.
                       .=iX##WWQQQQQ;;QQWW:WQQ==|+|++==QW::XnIIvSZ:QQ======QQ;QWW#ZSI|=--. .  . .-=inX#:Q;=QQ:Xi=.     .:|nZ#:WQWW:::#ZZZXXZ##:WWWQ;======QQW::ZSSnSSZ#::QQQQ;QQQQQQW:#XI|+++|iIvvvvnnSZ:WWQ;;;;;QQ::XI+-.
                     .:inZ:WQQQ;;=;===;;QQQ;;==|+||||++==Q:#XvIvS#:Q======QQ;QW:#XSvIi||+==:-:=iISXZ::WQ;=;=Q:ZI=:-    =|S#:QQ;QQQQW::::##:WWWQQQQ;====++==QQW:::::::WQQ;;;=;=Q;;QQW#ZSI+++|inXZ#####Z###:WQ;======QQ:Xv+-.
                        .=vZ:QQ;;=;=;;=;;;===;====+|||i|i|||==;Q:ZXX#:Q;======;;;QW::#ZXSnnvII||ivZ:WQQ;;QQ;=;=QQW#n|==inZ:QQ;;;;QQQQWW::WQQQ;;;;;;;==|+|===QQQQQQQ;=;======Q;;;QQW#ZSviiivS    Z:QQ===;;QQ:W:WQ;==++|+==QW#Si=--.
                        .|n#:WQQ;;QQ;=;==;=Q=;=;==|+|iiii:ii||===WW:WQQ=;====Q=;;QQQWW::::#ZZSnnS#W;==++===;Q;;;QQ:ZXvvS#:WQQ;;;;=Q;QQQQQ;=;=====;=;==+||||++==============Q;;;QQW:##    XSXSZ#WQ==|||||+==QQWWQQ=+||||||==W:ZnI|+:..