Using the 'lorem' Command (with examples)

Lorem ipsum text is widely used as a placeholder in the design and typesetting industry. It allows designers to focus on the layout and aesthetics without being distracted by the content itself. The lorem command in Linux provides a convenient way to generate lorem ipsum text for various purposes. In this article, we will explore different use cases of the lorem command with code examples and explanations.

1: Printing the Specified Number of Words

Code:

lorem -n 20

Motivation: Sometimes you may need a specific number of words for testing or demo purposes. Using the lorem command with the -n option allows you to generate a predefined number of lorem ipsum words.

Explanation: The -n option is used to specify the number of words to be printed. In this example, we have set it to 20.

Example Output:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla sem neque, lacinia ut ornare id, venenatis eu ligula. Suspendisse vel bibendum sapien. Sed eget feugiat orci. Etiam rutrum augue et dapibus tincidunt. Nunc congue sapien at metus hendrerit posuere. Integer lacinia urna sed diam laoreet, vitae sollicitudin nibh sodales. Nullam congue diam id neque tristique commodo. Mauris in augue nibh. Integer velit neque, sollicitudin eget elementum vitae, feugiat non tortor.

2: Printing Lines of Goethe’s Faust

Code:

lorem -l 10 --faust

Motivation: You may want to generate lorem ipsum text that closely resembles a specific source, such as a famous literary work. The lorem command provides the option --faust to generate lines of text inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s “Faust.”

Explanation: The -l option is used to specify the number of lines to be printed. In this example, we have set it to 10. The --faust option indicates that the generated text should be influenced by Goethe’s “Faust.”

Example Output:

Am Ziel der Streben soll ich nun mit Schmerzen,
Verachtet und von allen Menschen fern,
In eine Wueste gehen und mein Leben
Sammt meiner Liebsten Leben weit von hier
Im wilden Osten hinziehn?

3: Printing Sentences of Poe’s Raven

Code:

lorem -s 5 --raven

Motivation: Similar to the previous example, you may want to generate lorem ipsum text inspired by a specific literary work, such as Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven.” This can be useful for creating themed designs or testing scenarios.

Explanation: The -s option is used to specify the number of sentences to be printed. In this example, we have set it to 5. The --raven option indicates that the generated text should be influenced by Poe’s “The Raven.”

Example Output:

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

4: Printing Random Characters from Boccaccio’s Decameron

Code:

lorem --randomize -c 40 --decamerone

Motivation: Sometimes, you may require a random sequence of characters instead of actual words. By using the lorem command with the --randomize option, you can generate a random string of characters.

Explanation: The --randomize option is used to enable randomization of characters. The -c option is used to specify the number of characters to be printed. In this example, we have set it to 40. The --decamerone option indicates that the generated text should be influenced by Boccaccio’s “Decameron.”

Example Output:

G T)w/.<XMx&Hv6hDgwS*tETO`|]#Kya)QLm0c

In this article, we explored various use cases of the lorem command in Linux. Whether you need a specific number of words, lines inspired by literary works, or random character sequences, the lorem command provides a flexible solution for generating lorem ipsum text.