Christmas presents

Linux Candy: ctree – Christmas tree on your terminal

Who loves eye candy? Don’t be shy — you can raise both hands! Both feet too if you’re sufficiently pliant.

Linux Candy is a series of articles covering interesting eye candy software. We only feature open-source software in this series.

As we’re fast approaching Christmas, it seems only appropriate to start decorating the desktop. ctree offers a Christmas tree right on your terminal.

Installation

As you’d expect, installation is a breeze.

On a vanilla Ubuntu 22.10 system, we first need to install a package.

$ sudo apt install golang-go

Now we’re ready to install ctree. If there’s no package for your distro, clone the project’s repository.

$ git clone https://github.com/gleich/ctree

Change into the newly created ctree directory

$ cd ctree

Then run the command:

$ go build -v .

We can then copy the ctree to a directory in our PATH e.g. /usr/local/bin

There is a package in the Arch User Repository for users of Arch and Arch-based distros. ctree is cross-platform software. The developer provides binaries for Linux (including ARM), macOS and Windows.

In Operation

Issuing the command $ ctree presents a (slightly) animated Christmas tree in your terminal.

ctree

The only option is the --no-refresh which outputs the tree a single time and returns you back to the command prompt.

Summary

ctree offers an ‘animated’ Christmas tree on your terminal that refreshes every 2 seconds.

As Porky Pig memorably said on so many endings in the Looney Tunes signature closing sequence “Th-Th-The, Th-Th-The, Th-Th… That’s all, folks!””

Website: github.com/gleich/ctree
Support:
Developer: Matthew Gleich
License: MIT License

ctree is written in Go. Learn Go with our recommended free books and free tutorials.


Complete list of articles in this series:

Linux Candy
ASCIIQuariumEmbrace marine life from the terminal with beautiful ASCII art
BobRossQuotesCollection of quotes from Bob Ross
BoxesCommand line ASCII boxes
BuohOnline strips comics reader
cacafireColor ASCII fire
catclockxclock with an enhanced cat mode
cbonsaiGenerate bonsai trees in the terminal
christmasfetchFestive cheer on the desktop
chucknorrisChuck Norris jokes in your terminal
cornyjokesCorny jokes for the terminal
CMatrixncurses program that simulates the display from “The Matrix”
ctreeA Christmas tree right on your terminal
eDEX-UISci-fi computer terminal emulator and system monitor
emojSimple tool that to find suitable emojis for pasting to your clipboard
EmoteModern popup emoji picker
EvolvotronInteractive generative art
FondoFind beautiful wallpapers from Unsplash
gtiTypo-based curio inspired by Steam Locomotive
HollywoodFill your console with Hollywood melodrama technobabble
linuxwaveGenerate music from the entropy of Linux
lolcatRainbows and unicorns
No More SecretsRecreates the data decryption effect from the Sneakers movie
nyancatTerminal-based Pop Tart Cat Animation
onekoAnimal chasing fun
pipes.shAnimated pipes terminal screensaver
ponysaycowsay reimplemention for ponies
projectMMusic visualizer originally based on Milkdrop
pscircleA different take on the venerable ps command
pyjokesOne line jokes for programmers
PywalGenerate color schemes on the fly
RelaxatorRelax to soothing sounds
Rusty AquariumMonitoring by visualization
Steam LocomotiveC program written in 295 lines. It's harmless fun
TernimalAnimated lifeform in the terminal
terminal-parrotParty parrot time
tetrisTile-matching puzzle video game in your terminal
VarietyWallpaper manager with many desktops and wallpaper sources
WallGenGenerate HQ poly wallpapers with a few arguments.
WallpaperDownloaderDownload, change, and manage wallpapers
xcowsayDisplays a cow on your desktop with message
XDecorationsAdd some festive cheer to your desktop
XScreenSaverFramework and collection of screensavers
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3 Comments
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IGnatius T Foobar
IGnatius T Foobar
1 year ago

This could have been a simple ANSI Art file but they made it a program. Geeze.

Nc
Nc
1 year ago

Your comment says more about you than the developer.

Derek
Derek
1 year ago

ITF: Bear in mind that these very simple utilities are often the product of a developer either new to programming or to a specific language. Whether or not the program could have been an ANSI art file is totally missing the point.