hollywood
Display colorful, simulated hacking scenes
TLDR
Fill the console
Exit hollywood
Display help
SYNOPSIS
hollywood [options] [screen]
PARAMETERS
-c, --continuous
Run in continuous mode, generating endless screens without exiting.
-f, --font=<FONT>
Specify font to use (default: fixed).
-s, --speed=<SPEED>
Typing speed factor (0.0-1.0, default 0.8).
-m, --mode=<MODE>
Display mode: default, scroll, star, matrix, numbers (default: default).
-d, --delay=<SECONDS>
Delay between screen changes (default 3 seconds).
-F, --file=<FILE>
Read text content from specified file.
-t, --title=<TITLE>
Set window title.
-h, --help
Display help summary.
-V, --version
Show program version.
DESCRIPTION
Hollywood is a fun utility that turns your terminal into a convincing imitation of the dramatic computer displays seen in movies. It generates streams of fake commands, scrolling text, matrix-style characters, and other visual effects reminiscent of Hollywood depictions of hacking.
Run it and watch as it fills your screen with rapid typing simulations, fake logins, directory listings, network scans, and cryptic code, all at movie-like speeds. Modes include classic scrolling text, falling matrix characters, or starry patterns. Ideal for pranks, demos, or just amusing yourself while pretending to be a cinematic cyber operative.
The tool uses X11 for fullscreen display, overriding your terminal with believable but nonsensical activity. It's lightweight, customizable via speeds, fonts, and sources, and can loop indefinitely for prolonged entertainment.
CAVEATS
Requires X11; runs fullscreen and captures keyboard/mouse until exit (Ctrl+C or Escape). Not suitable for real terminals without X forwarding.
EXIT METHODS
Press Ctrl+C, Escape, or q to quit fullscreen mode.
INSTALLATION
Available in most distros via apt install hollywood or equivalent; source on freedesktop.org.
HISTORY
Developed by Lennart Poettering in 2007 as a humorous take on movie hacker tropes. Maintained sporadically; popular in Linux distros for its entertainment value and inspired similar tools.
