Let’s be honest working in the Linux terminal can sometimes look intimidating but also incredibly cool. There’s something satisfying about green characters raining down your screen or simulating hacker-style animations while you’re actually just updating packages.
If you’ve ever seen those scenes in The Matrix movie and wanted your terminal to look like that you’re in the right place. In this guide, I’ll walk you through some of the coolest terminal Matrix-style commands you can try on Ubuntu, along with how to install and use them.
No coding expertise needed just your terminal and a sense of curiosity.
1. CMATRIX — The Classic Matrix Effect
Let’s start with the most popular and classic command — CMatrix.
What It Does:
It creates the famous Matrix digital rain effect those falling green characters that made Neo famous.
Installation:
sudo apt install cmatrix
Run It:
cmatrix
Customize It:
- Change speed:
cmatrix -u 10 - Bold characters:
cmatrix -B - Red color effect:
cmatrix -C red
Exit:
Just press Ctrl + C to stop it.
Pro tip: You can even run it as a screensaver-like background when your terminal is idle.
2. UNIMATRIX — A More Modern Matrix Version
If you want something smoother and with Unicode support, Unimatrix is like an upgraded version of CMatrix.
Installation:
sudo apt install python3-pip
pip install unimatrix
Run It:
unimatrix -f -s 96
Why It’s Cool:
- Supports Unicode symbols
- Has smoother motion
- Customizable speed, density, and color
Example:
unimatrix -a -c red -s 120
This one is great if you like modern visual effects or want more flexibility compared to CMatrix.
3. PIPES.SH — Watch Endless Animated Pipes Flow
This one’s not exactly “Matrix” themed, but it’s one of the coolest visual scripts you can run in the terminal.
Installation:
sudo apt install pipes.sh
Run It:
pipes.sh
What It Does:
It draws endless animated pipes in random directions. It’s oddly relaxing to watch — like your terminal is building its own maze.
Customize:
- Set number of pipes:
pipes.sh -p 10 - Change colors:
pipes.sh -t 0
If you ever need a quick visual break from coding or writing commands, pipes.sh is your go-to fun trick.
4. HOLLYWOOD — Become a “Hacker” Instantly
This one is pure fun and perfect for impressing your friends or colleagues.
What It Does:
hollywood simulates a full-on hacking environment. It opens multiple terminal windows with random scripts running — system monitoring, logs, code streams — just like in movies!
Installation:
sudo apt install hollywood
Run It:
hollywood
What You’ll See:
- Fake code streams
- Network scanning visuals
- Debug logs
- Random hacker-like windows
You can stop it anytime with Ctrl + C.
Note: It’s surprisingly heavy, so don’t run it on low-end systems for too long.
5. ASCIINEMA — Record and Share Your Terminal Sessions
If you want to record your Matrix moment, Asciinema lets you do that.
Installation:
sudo apt install asciinema
Run It:
asciinema rec
After you finish your “show”, press Ctrl + D and you’ll get a shareable link.
It’s perfect for:
- Showing your cool setups
- Sharing commands with your team
- Or just flexing your terminal tricks online
6. BB — Play an ASCII Movie in Your Terminal
Yes, you read that right — you can play a movie right in your terminal!
Installation:
sudo apt install bb
Run It:
bb
It runs a trippy ASCII animation with music — not exactly Matrix-style, but fits the same retro terminal aesthetic.
7. TOILET — Make ASCII Text Art
Want to print your name or message in giant text on the terminal? Try TOILET (Text Output In Large ASCII Text).
Installation:
sudo apt install toilet
Run It:
toilet "Hello Ubuntu"
Add Colors:
toilet -f mono12 -F metal "Matrix Mode"
Combine it with cmatrix for a “Welcome to the Matrix” terminal screen.
8. LOLCAT — Add Color to Your Output 🌈
You can use lolcat to colorize any terminal output in rainbow colors. Combine it with toilet or other commands to create vibrant visual effects.
Installation:
sudo apt install lolcat
Example:
echo "Welcome to The Matrix" | lolcat
Or Combine:
toilet "Ubuntu Matrix" | lolcat
Looks absolutely stunning in a dark terminal theme.
9. PV — Simulate Typing Effect Like a Hacker
Want to look like you’re typing super-fast code like in movies? Use PV (Pipe Viewer).
Installation:
sudo apt install pv
Example:
echo "Wake up, Neo..." | pv -qL 10
It’ll print the text letter by letter — like a dramatic reveal in The Matrix.
You can even use it for storytelling effects in shell scripts.
10. NEOFETCH — Show Off Your System Details Stylishly
Though not “Matrix” directly, Neofetch adds to the aesthetic. It displays your system info next to your OS logo in ASCII art.
Installation:
sudo apt install neofetch
Run It:
neofetch
Combine it with other effects like:
neofetch | lolcat
You’ll get a colorful, futuristic-looking display of your system specs.
Bonus: Combine Commands for the Ultimate Matrix Setup
Here’s a fun trick — you can combine multiple commands to create your own custom “Matrix terminal”.
Example:
clear && toilet "WELCOME TO THE MATRIX" | lolcat && sleep 2 && cmatrix
Or use Unimatrix + PV for dramatic entry:
echo "Initializing the Matrix..." | pv -qL 10 && sleep 1 && unimatrix -a
It’s these small tweaks that make Linux fun and highly customizable.
Conclusion
Ubuntu’s terminal isn’t just for commands it’s a creative space where you can experiment, learn, and even have fun.
From cmatrix’s iconic green rain to hollywood’s hacker simulation, each of these tools adds personality to your terminal.
You don’t need to be a programmer to enjoy this — just open your terminal, type a few commands, and watch the magic happen.
So next time someone walks by and sees your screen full of glowing green symbols, let them think you’re decoding the Matrix only you’ll know it’s just cmatrix -C green.
Quick Summary of Commands
| Command | Description | Installation |
|---|---|---|
cmatrix | Classic Matrix rain effect | sudo apt install cmatrix |
unimatrix | Modern Matrix effect with Unicode | pip install unimatrix |
pipes.sh | Endless pipe animation | sudo apt install pipes.sh |
hollywood | Hacker movie simulation | sudo apt install hollywood |
asciinema | Record and share terminal sessions | sudo apt install asciinema |
bb | ASCII animation movie | sudo apt install bb |
toilet | Big ASCII text | sudo apt install toilet |
lolcat | Rainbow color output | sudo apt install lolcat |
pv | Typing text effect | sudo apt install pv |
neofetch | Display system info stylishly | sudo apt install neofetch |
