How to use the command xcowsay (with examples)

Xcowsay is a command that allows users to display a cute cow and message on their Linux desktop. The cow can be displayed for a fixed amount of time or for an amount of time calculated from the size of the text. Users can click on the cow to dismiss it immediately. Xcowsay is a fun way to add a touch of whimsy to your Linux experience.

Use case 1: Display a cow saying “hello, world”:

Code:

xcowsay "hello, world"

Motivation: This use case is a simple example of using xcowsay to display a message from the cow. It can be used to greet the user or add a playful touch to the desktop.

Explanation: The command xcowsay is followed by the message you want the cow to say, enclosed in quotation marks. In this case, the message is “hello, world”.

Example output:

 _________________________
< hello, world >
 -------------------------
        \   ^__^
         \  (oo)\_______
            (__)\       )\/\
                ||----w |
                ||     ||

Use case 2: Display a cow with output from another command:

Code:

ls | xcowsay

Motivation: This use case demonstrates how xcowsay can display the output of another command. It can be used to visually represent the results of a command in a fun and engaging way.

Explanation: The command ls lists the files in the current directory. The pipe (|) symbol is used to send the output of the ls command to xcowsay as input. This causes xcowsay to display the output of ls in the speech bubble of the cow.

Example output:

  _______________________
< file1.txt  file2.txt >
 -----------------------
        \   ^__^
         \  (oo)\_______
            (__)\       )\/\
                ||----w |
                ||     ||

Use case 3: Display a cow at the specified X and Y coordinates:

Code:

xcowsay --at=X,Y

Motivation: This use case allows users to have more control over the positioning of the cow on their desktop. It can be useful for placing the cow in a specific location, such as avoiding overlapping with other windows.

Explanation: The --at flag is used to specify the X and Y coordinates of the cow’s position on the desktop. Replace X and Y with the desired coordinates. The X coordinate represents the horizontal position, and the Y coordinate represents the vertical position.

Example output:

           _________________________
          < I am at coordinates 100,50 >
           -------------------------
                  \   ^__^
                   \  (oo)\_______
                      (__)\       )\/\
                          ||----w |
                          ||     ||

Use case 4: Display a different sized cow:

Code:

xcowsay --cow-size=small

Motivation: This use case allows users to change the size of the cow displayed on the desktop. It can be used to customize the appearance of the cow to suit personal preferences or fit better with the desktop environment.

Explanation: The --cow-size flag is used to specify the size of the cow. The options are small, medium, and large. Choose the desired option to change the size of the cow.

Example output:

   _______________________________________
  /                                       \
 |   _____________________________________   |
 |  /                                     \  |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 |  \_____________________________________/  |
  \_______________________________________/
     |  |  |
     |__|__|
     (oo)  )/
    //||||
   |||  |||
   |||  |||
   |||  |||
   |||  |||
   |||  |||
   |||  |||
    \\||||

Use case 5: Display a thought bubble instead of a speech bubble:

Code:

xcowsay --think

Motivation: This use case allows the cow to display its thoughts instead of speaking. It can be used to add variety to the messages displayed by the cow and convey a different tone or mood.

Explanation: The --think flag is used to display a thought bubble instead of a speech bubble on the cow. When this flag is used, the messages will be shown as if the cow is thinking them.

Example output:

   ___________
  < I am lost >
   -----------
           \   ^__^
            \  (oo)\_______
               (__)\       )\/\
                   ||----w |
                   ||     ||

Use case 6: Display a different image instead of the default cow:

Code:

xcowsay --image=path/to/file

Motivation: This use case allows users to use a custom image instead of the default cow image. It can be used to add personalization or incorporate different themes into the cow display.

Explanation: The --image flag is used to specify the path to the custom image file. Replace path/to/file with the actual path to the image file. The image should be in a supported format, such as PNG or JPEG.

Example output:

   _________________________________________
  /                                         \
 |   _____________________________________   |
 |  /                                     \  |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 | |                                       | |
 |  \_____________________________________/  |
  \_______________________________________/
     |  |  |
     |__|__|
     (oo)  )/
    //||||
   |||  |||
   |||  |||
   |||  |||
   |||  |||
   |||  |||
   |||  |||
    \\||||

Conclusion:

Xcowsay is a fun and whimsical command that allows users to display a cute cow and message on their Linux desktop. With various options like custom messages, output from other commands, positioning, and appearance customization, xcowsay provides a unique and entertaining way to interact with the desktop environment. Whether you want to greet yourself, visualize command output, or simply add some cheer to your Linux experience, xcowsay is a command worth exploring.