# Something to pretty up my terminal **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [June 2, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/something-to-pretty-up-my-terminal/169356 "2009-06-02T20:00:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ziggles](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/7ba0ec/32.png) [@ziggles](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ziggles)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/something-to-pretty-up-my-terminal/169356/1 "2009-06-02T20:00:23Z")
Was wondering if there is anything out there that i can use to pretty up my terminal’s output? (linux) Stuff like migrations and most rake tasks output as just white text on black. thanks! ---
**Author:** ![ziggles](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/7ba0ec/32.png) [@ziggles](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ziggles)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/something-to-pretty-up-my-terminal/169356/2 "2009-06-02T20:16:34Z")
On Jun 2, 2009, at 11:00 AM, sir ziggles wrote: > Was wondering if there is anything out there that i can use to > pretty up > my terminal’s output? (linux) > > Stuff like migrations and most rake tasks output as just white text on > black. Couple of options… [http://pablotron.org/software/wirble/](http://pablotron.org/software/wirble/) Install the ‘wirble’ gem. In ~/.irbrc add the following: require ‘rubygems’ require ‘wirble’ Wirble.init Wirble.colorize If you’re using capistrano, install the capistrano\_colors gem and then add this to the top of your deploy.rb file: require ‘capistrano\_colors’ [http://www.pastbedti.me/2008/12/put-some-colors-of-your-capistrano-output/](http://www.pastbedti.me/2008/12/put-some-colors-of-your-capistrano-output/) -philip ---
**Author:** ![ziggles](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/7ba0ec/32.png) [@ziggles](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ziggles)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/something-to-pretty-up-my-terminal/169356/3 "2009-06-02T20:23:16Z")
sir ziggles wrote: > Was wondering if there is anything out there that i can use to pretty up > my terminal’s output? (linux) > > Stuff like migrations and most rake tasks output as just white text on > black. > > thanks! Myself, I like the classic linux dweeb look: a 100% transparent or slightly smoky terminal with no window decor added [http://www.intergate.com/~halfcountplus/misc/june2ss.jpg](http://www.intergate.com/~halfcountplus/misc/june2ss.jpg) Actually that one does have window decor, it’s an XFCE Terminal I use with fvwm2. I think the only terminal that uses tinted transparencies (eg, a nice, transparent red “ruby” look) is the “aterm”, but AFAIK all the common distro/DE’s (gnome, KDE, etc) use a terminal with a transparency option. You just have to choose your desktop background carefully. I think most of them (inc. the XFCE Terminal) will also allow you to use an image inside the window as the background, potentially a tiled image so you could make it look like a web page. Eterm uses shadows with the fonts, which is nice for contrasting with backgrounds, but Eterm is kind of gimpy IMO. Play with your toys more. You can change the text color too silly. And remember: IDE’s will rot your brain. –MK ---
**Author:** ![ziggles](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/7ba0ec/32.png) [@ziggles](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ziggles)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/something-to-pretty-up-my-terminal/169356/4 "2009-06-02T20:25:19Z")
Philip H. wrote: > If you’re using capistrano, install the capistrano\_colors gem and then > add this to the top of your deploy.rb file: > > require ‘capistrano\_colors’ Like that idea. Add that and you will have to start shielding your eyes. The text terminal is your friend. Do _everything_ you can in the text terminal. You will learn better and faster, I promise.