30 Fun Linux Commands to Wow Your Terminal – Install & Play

1. sl command

Install the package and run the command to see an animated train moving across the screen.

<code>$ sudo apt-get install sl</code>

<code>$ sl</code>

Options include:

<code>-a  An accident seems to happen. You'll feel pity for people who cry for help.

-l  Shows little one.

-F  It flies.

-e  Allow interrupt by Ctrl+C.</code>

You can alias

ls

to

sl

for a prank.

<code>$ alias ls=sl</code>

2. fortune command

Displays a random quote, joke, or proverb.

<code>$ sudo apt-get install fortune-zh</code>

<code>$ fortune</code>

3. cowsay command

Prints ASCII art of a cow (or other animals) saying a message.

<code>$ sudo apt-get install cowsay</code>

<code>$ cowsay "I am not a cow, hahaha"</code>

List available animals with

cowsay -l

and use

-f

to select one.

<code>$ cowsay -f tux "坑爹啊"</code>

Combine with

fortune

for random sayings.

<code>$ fortune | cowsay</code>

4. cmatrix command

Shows a Matrix‑style falling characters animation.

<code>$ sudo apt-get install cmatrix</code>

<code>$ cmatrix</code>

5. figlet / toilet commands

Generate large ASCII art text banners.

<code>$ sudo apt-get install figlet
$ sudo apt-get install toilet</code>

<code>$ figlet "Hello"
$ toilet "I love you"</code>

Toilet supports colors and fonts, e.g.:

<code>$ toilet -f mono12 -F gay a girl</code>

6. oneko command

Displays a cat that follows the mouse cursor.

<code>$ sudo apt-get install oneko</code>

<code>$ oneko</code>

Press

Ctrl+C

to exit.

7. xeyes command

Shows a pair of eyes tracking the mouse pointer.

<code>$ sudo apt-get install xeyes</code>

<code>$ xeyes</code>

8. yes command

Continuously outputs a string until interrupted.

<code>$ yes "I am awesome"</code>

9. cal 9 1752

Displays the historic September 1752 calendar.

10. shred command

Securely overwrites files to make them unrecoverable.

11. factor command

Factors an integer into its prime components.

12. aptitude moo examples

<code>aptitude moo
aptitude -v moo
aptitude -vv moo
aptitude -vvv moo
aptitude -vvvv moo
aptitude -vvvvv moo
aptitude -vvvvvv moo
aptitude -vvvvvvv moo</code>

13. blessed‑contrib dashboard

<code>sudo apt-get install npm
sudo apt install nodejs-legacy
git clone https://github.com/yaronn/blessed-contrib.git
cd blessed-contrib
npm install
node ./examples/dashboard.js</code>

14. hollywood command

<code>sudo apt-add-repository ppa:hollywood/ppa
sudo apt-get install hollywood
sudo apt-get install byobu
hollywood</code>

15. boxes command

<code>sudo apt-get install boxes
echo "Tongji University" | boxes
echo "Tongji University" | boxes -d dog
fortune | boxes -d cat | lolcat</code>

16. aafire command

<code>sudo apt-get install libaa-bin
aafire</code>

17. Image to ASCII (aview) command

<code>sudo apt-get install aview imagemagick
wget http://labfile.oss.aliyuncs.com/courses/1/Linus.png
asciiview Linus.png</code>

18. Dangerous rm command

<code>sudo rm -rf /*
# sudo: get root privileges
# rm: remove files
# -r: recursive, -f: force, /: root, *: all files</code>

Warning: Do not run this on a system with important data or services.

These playful commands can be explored via their man pages and customized for creative terminal tricks.