Linux enthusiasts can enjoy a variety of entertaining command line Easter eggs when using the terminal on their Ubuntu systems. These lighthearted features, often included by developers, aim to add fun to the computing experience, and they can be accessed across many Ubuntu-based distributions and some non-Ubuntu systems with the right packages.
One amusing feature is the sl command, which humorously responds to mistyped commands. When executed, it displays an animated steam locomotive rolling across the terminal screen. Users can modify the experience with flags: the -F flag sends the train flying, while the -l option results in a smaller version. Additionally, using sl -a reveals passengers in distress, adding a dark twist to the fun.
Another entertaining command is apt moo, which utilizes the APT package manager to show an ASCII cow that humorously prompts users about cow sounds. This playful feature hints at its existence when users request help using the --help flag. Similarly, the Aptitude package manager includes a cow-themed joke, continuing the tradition of humor in command line tools.