How to Use the Command 'viu' for Image Viewing in Terminal (with Examples)

The viu command is a versatile tool that allows users to view images directly within the terminal. This can include static images like PNG or JPEG files, as well as animated GIFs. While graphical interfaces are often used for viewing images, the ability to do so within a terminal can be very handy in certain situations, especially when working on remote servers or when a graphical user interface is not available.

Use Case 1: Render an Image or Animated GIF

Code:

viu path/to/file

Motivation:

This use case is valuable when you need to quickly preview an image without leaving the terminal environment. It could be especially useful for developers or system administrators who spend a lot of time in a command-line interface and need to view the content of images without opening them in a separate graphical application.

Explanation:

• viu: This is the command that invokes the image viewer.
• path/to/file: This specifies the path to the image file that you want to render.

Example Output:

When you execute this command, the image specified by the path will be rendered directly within the terminal window, allowing you to view its content promptly.

Use Case 2: Render an Image or GIF from the Internet Using curl

Code:

curl -s https://example.com/image.png | viu -

Motivation:

Rendering an image directly from the internet is particularly useful for remote work or situations where the image file doesn’t reside on your local machine, but you have a URL. It allows you to preview an image from the web without manually downloading it.

Explanation:

• curl -s: This is a command-line tool for transferring data with URLs. The -s option is used to operate in “silent” mode, suppressing progress bars and errors.
• https://example.com/image.png: This is the URL of the image you wish to preview.
• |: This pipe operator is used to send the output of curl as input to the viu command.
• viu -: The dash (-) tells viu to take input from standard input, allowing it to read the image data streamed from curl.

Example Output:

After executing this command, you will see the image from the specified URL rendered in your terminal, providing a quick and efficient way to view web-hosted images.

Use Case 3: Render an Image with a Transparent Background

Code:

viu -t path/to/file

Motivation:

Images with transparent backgrounds can display differently depending on how transparency is handled by the viewer. This use case is important when you need to ensure that transparency is respected in the rendering, which is particularly useful for designers or when layering images.

Explanation:

• viu -t: The -t option in viu ensures that the transparency in the image file is preserved during rendering.
• path/to/file: This is the path to the image with transparency that you want to view.

Example Output:

The terminal window will display the image while maintaining any transparency present in the original file, which may appear as transparent or with a default background color of the terminal.

Use Case 4: Render an Image with a Specific Width and Height in Pixels

Code:

viu -w width -h height path/to/file

Motivation:

Controlling the dimensions of your rendered image can be crucial for presentations, limited display areas, or just personal preference. This use case enables you to resize images dynamically to fit your specific requirements, right within the terminal.

Explanation:

• viu -w width -h height: The -w and -h options specify the width and height of the rendered image, respectively.
• width/height: These are placeholder values representing the desired pixel dimensions.
• path/to/file: This indicates the path to the image file you want to resize.

Example Output:

The image will be displayed within the terminal according to the specific width and height you defined, allowing you to view it at the desired scale.

Use Case 5: Render an Image or GIF and Display Its File Name

Code:

viu -n path/to/file

Motivation:

Sometimes, when working with many image files, it can be helpful to quickly verify which file you are viewing, especially in scripts or other environments where context might be limited. This use case allows you to see both the image and its filename simultaneously.

Explanation:

• viu -n: The -n option tells viu to display the filename of the image along with the image itself.
• path/to/file: This is the path to the image file you want to render and display its name.

Example Output:

Upon execution, the terminal will show the image alongside its filename, providing additional context and verification for the image in question.

Conclusion:

The viu command is a convenient and powerful tool for rendering images directly in the terminal. Whether you’re looking to quickly preview images from your local system, view images from the web, maintain transparency, customize dimensions, or see with filenames, viu helps streamline your workflow without leaving the terminal context.