If you have ever browsed Linux forums or subreddits, you have likely seen users post screenshots of their terminal displaying their distribution’s logo rendered in colorful ASCII art, alongside a neat summary of their system hardware and software. This iconic display is generated by a popular command-line utility called Neofetch.
Neofetch is a fast, highly customizable system information script that fetches vital details about your operating system, kernel, uptime, packages, shell, and memory, and presents them in a visually appealing format.
In this guide, you will learn how to install Neofetch on Ubuntu Linux and configure it to run automatically whenever you open a new terminal window.
Step 1: Install Neofetch
Because Neofetch is incredibly popular, it is already included in the default Ubuntu software repositories, meaning you do not need to add any third-party PPAs.
- Open your terminal (press Ctrl + Alt + T).
- Update your local package index by running:
sudo apt update - Install Neofetch by running:
sudo apt install neofetch - When prompted, press Y and Enter to confirm the installation.
Step 2: Run Neofetch Manually
Once the installation is complete, running the program is as simple as typing its name.
- In your terminal, simply type:
neofetch - Press Enter.
Your terminal will instantly output the Ubuntu logo in ASCII art on the left, and your system statistics on the right. This output is perfect for taking screenshots to share your system configuration with others.
Step 3: Run Neofetch Automatically on Startup
If you want to see your system information every time you open a new terminal window, you can add the Neofetch command to your bash profile script.
- Open your terminal.
- Use the nano text editor to open your bash configuration file by running:
nano ~/.bashrc - Use the down arrow key on your keyboard to scroll to the very bottom of the file.
- On a new, empty line at the bottom, type:
neofetch - Save the file by pressing Ctrl + O, then press Enter.
- Exit the nano editor by pressing Ctrl + X.
A Personalized Terminal Experience
Now, close your terminal window and open a new one. Before the command prompt even appears, Neofetch will execute and display your system stats. This small addition not only makes your Ubuntu terminal look highly customized and professional, but it also provides a quick glance at your RAM usage and system uptime every time you start working.