Installing cmatrix on Ubuntu
To customize cmatrix, you first need to install it. On Ubuntu, run the following commands to update your package list and install cmatrix:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install cmatrix
This installs the latest version of cmatrix available in Ubuntu’s repositories.
Customizing cmatrix via Command-Line Parameters
You can adjust cmatrix’s behavior instantly using command-line flags. Here are key options:
-b for occasional bold text or -B for all bold text.-c to enable colored output. Use -C followed by a color code (e.g., -C green, -C magenta) to set the matrix color.-u. Lower values (e.g., -u 2) make the matrix faster; higher values (e.g., -u 9) slow it down.-s followed by dimensions (e.g., -s 5 for a 5x5 grid) to resize the matrix.-t (e.g., -t "Hello Matrix").Example command for a fast, bold, green matrix with a message:
cmatrix -b -C green -u 2 -t "Welcome to My Matrix"
These parameters override default settings for one-time use.
Persistent Customization with ~/.cmatrixrc
For permanent changes, edit the configuration file ~/.cmatrixrc (creates the file if it doesn’t exist). Use a text editor like nano:
nano ~/.cmatrixrc
Add or modify these options:
colors to a semicolon-separated list of ANSI codes (e.g., colors=0;34;42 for black background, green text, cyan accents).width (columns) and height (rows) (e.g., width=100, height=30).update_interval in milliseconds (e.g., update_interval=100 for slower scrolling).deco_char (e.g., deco_char=*) and deco_color (e.g., deco_color=color7) to add decorative characters.scrollbar=yes.Example ~/.cmatrixrc for a sleek, blue-themed matrix:
colors=0;34;42
width=80
height=24
update_interval=100
deco_char=*
deco_color=color7
scrollbar=yes
Save the file and exit (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X in nano). The next time you run cmatrix, it will use these settings.
Advanced Tips for Enhanced Effects
lolcat for a rainbow effect. Install lolcat first (sudo apt-get install lolcat), then run:cmatrix | lolcat
-m lambda flag to display Lambda symbols (common in hacker-themed visuals):cmatrix -m lambda
-s to run cmatrix in screen saver mode (press any key to exit).