cmatrix(1)

cmatrix1

Usage

cmatrix [-abBflohnsmVx] [-u update] [-C color]

Overview

Shows a scrolling 'Matrix' like screen in Linux

Options

-a

Asynchronous scroll

-b

Bold characters on

-B

All bold characters (overrides -b)

-f

Force the linux $TERM type to be on

-l

Linux mode (sets "matrix.fnt" font in console)

-o

Use old-style scrolling

-h, -?

Print usage and exit

-n

No bold characters (overrides -b and -B)

-s

"Screensaver" mode, exits on first keystroke

-m

"Lambda" mode, every character becomes a lambda

-x

X window mode, use if your xterm is using mtx.pcf

-V

Print version information and exit

-u delay

Screen update delay 0 - 9, default 4

-C color

Use this color for matrix (default green). Valid colors are green, red, blue, white, yellow, cyan, magenta and black.

Keystrokes

The following keystrokes are available during execution (unavailable in -s mode)

a

Toggle asynchronous scroll

b

Random bold characters

B

All bold characters

n

Turn off bold characters

0-9

Adjust update speed

! @ # $ % ^ & )

Change the color of the matrix to the corresponding color: ! - red, @ - green, # - yellow, $ - blue, % - magenta, ^ - cyan, & - white, ) - black.

q

Quit the program

Homepage

http://www.github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix

Releases

13 releases since Debian 3.0 (Woody); the text changed 5 times.

  1. 3.0
  2. 3.1–4.0
  3. 5.0–9
  4. 10
  5. 11–13
  6. Arch

-m since Debian 11 (Bullseye).

Bugs

This program is very CPU intensive. Don't be surprised if it eats up over 40% of your CPU at times.

From cmatrix 2.0-4 in Arch Linux 2026-11-01. Parsed by carta from the page's man source.