How to use the command screenfetch (with examples)

Screenfetch is a command-line utility that displays system information in the terminal. It retrieves details such as the distribution name, kernel version, CPU information, and more. It also mentions the window manager or desktop environment being used. Screenfetch is a handy tool for quickly checking system information and generating ASCII art logos for various distributions.

Use case 1: Start screenfetch

Code:

screenfetch

Motivation: This command is the simplest and most common use case. By executing this command, you can quickly display system information in the terminal. It provides an easy way to gather information about your computer without having to navigate through various system menus or settings.

Example output:

            _,met$$$$$gg.          user@hostname
        ,g$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$P.       -------------
      ,g$$P"     """Y$$.".        OS: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
    ,$$P'              `$$$.     Kernel: 5.4.0-58-generic
   ',$$P       ,ggs.     `$$b:   Uptime: 3 days, 2 hours, 15 minutes
   `d$$'     ,$P"'   .    $$$    Packages: 1754 (dpkg), 15 (snap)
    $$P      d$'     ,    $$P    Shell: bash 5.0.17
    $$:      $$.   -    ,d$$'    Resolution: 1920x1080
    $$\;      Y$b._   _,d$P'      WM: GNOME Shell
    Y$$.    `.`"Y$$$$P"'         Theme: Adwaita [GTK2/3]
    `$$b      "-.__             Icons: Yaru [GTK2/3]
     `Y$$                        Terminal: gnome-terminal
      `Y$$.              kubectl: command not found
        `$$b._____   gnupg: /usr/bin/gpg
          `$$$$$$$$$b,        Docker: Not Found
                `""""""`       Processes: 305

Use case 2: Take a screenshot

Code:

screenfetch -s

Motivation: Adding the “-s” flag to the screenfetch command allows you to take a screenshot of the terminal output. This is useful when you want to save or share the system information with others.

Example output:

Screenshot saved as: /home/user/Pictures/screenfetch_20210101_123456.png

Use case 3: Specify distribution logo

Code:

screenfetch -A 'distribution_name'

Motivation: By default, screenfetch determines the distribution logo based on the detected distribution. However, if it fails to identify the distribution correctly or if you want to display a different logo, you can use this command. Replace ‘distribution_name’ with the desired distribution name enclosed in quotes.

Example output:

            _,met$$$$$gg.          user@hostname
        ,g$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$P.       -------------
      ,g$$P"     """Y$$."     OS: distribution_name
    ,$$P'              `$$$.   Kernel: 5.4.0-58-generic
   ',$$P       ,ggs.     `$$b: Uptime: 3 days, 2 hours, 15 minutes
   `d$$'     ,$P"'   .    $$$  Packages: 1754 (dpkg), 15 (snap)
    $$P      d$'     ,    $$P  Shell: bash 5.0.17
    $$:      $$.   -    ,d$$'  Resolution: 1920x1080
    $$\;      Y$b._   _,d$P'    WM: GNOME Shell
    Y$$.    `.`"Y$$$$P"'       Theme: Adwaita [GTK2/3]
    `$$b      "-.__             Icons: Yaru [GTK2/3]
     `Y$$                        Terminal: gnome-terminal
      `Y$$.              kubectl: command not found
        `$$b._____   gnupg: /usr/bin/gpg
          `$$$$$$$$$b,        Docker: Not Found
                `""""""`       Processes: 305

Use case 4: Specify distribution logo and text

Code:

screenfetch -D 'distribution_name'

Motivation: Similar to the previous use case, this command allows you to specify a distribution logo. Additionally, it also lets you add custom text to the output. Replace ‘distribution_name’ with the desired distribution name enclosed in quotes.

Example output:

            _,met$$$$$gg.          user@hostname
        ,g$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$P.       -------------
      ,g$$P"     """Y$$."     OS: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Custom Text)
    ,$$P'              `$$$.   Kernel: 5.4.0-58-generic
   ',$$P       ,ggs.     `$$b: Uptime: 3 days, 2 hours, 15 minutes
   `d$$'     ,$P"'   .    $$$  Packages: 1754 (dpkg), 15 (snap)
    $$P      d$'     ,    $$P  Shell: bash 5.0.17
    $$:      $$.   -    ,d$$'  Resolution: 1920x1080
    $$\;      Y$b._   _,d$P'    WM: GNOME Shell
    Y$$.    `.`"Y$$$$P"'       Theme: Adwaita [GTK2/3]
    `$$b      "-.__             Icons: Yaru [GTK2/3]
     `Y$$                        Terminal: gnome-terminal
      `Y$$.              kubectl: command not found
        `$$b._____   gnupg: /usr/bin/gpg
          `$$$$$$$$$b,        Docker: Not Found
                `""""""`       Processes: 305

Use case 5: Strip all color

Code:

screenfetch -N

Motivation: By default, screenfetch outputs system information with colorful ASCII art and text. However, if you prefer a more stripped-down and colorless output, you can use this command.

Example output:

          user@hostname
        -------------
      OS: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
    Kernel: 5.4.0-58-generic
   Uptime: 3 days, 2 hours, 15 minutes
 Packages: 1754 (dpkg), 15 (snap)
    Shell: bash 5.0.17
Resolution: 1920x1080
       WM: GNOME Shell
   Theme: Adwaita [GTK2/3]
  Icons: Yaru [GTK2/3]

Conclusion:

Screenfetch is a versatile command-line utility for displaying system information in a visually appealing manner. It provides various options to customize the output, including specifying distribution logos, adding custom text, and stripping color. Whether you need a quick overview of your system or want to create ASCII art logos, screenfetch is a handy tool to have in your arsenal.