rainbowstream

Open RainbowStream

$ rainbowstream

$ home [[num_of_last_tweets]]

$ whois @[user]

$ t [message]

$ rt [tweet_id]

$ fav [tweet_id]

$ s [word]

rainbowstream [options]
To start the real-time stream: rainbowstream
For help: rainbowstream --help

-h, --help
    Displays the help message and exits.

-c CONFIG_FILE, --config=CONFIG_FILE
    Opens a specified configuration file instead of the default one.

-i, --image
    Enables image rendering directly within the terminal. Requires external tools like w3mimgdisplay or libcaca to be installed.

-s, --stream-only
    Starts the application in stream-only mode, meaning it will display the real-time stream without an interactive input prompt.

--debug
    Activates debug mode, showing verbose debug messages that can be useful for troubleshooting.

--version
    Displays the program's version number and exits.

rainbowstream is a powerful and colorful command-line interface (CLI) client for Twitter. Written in Python, it enables users to interact with Twitter directly from their terminal. Key features include a real-time tweet stream, allowing users to see tweets as they happen. It supports fundamental Twitter actions such as tweeting, replying, retweeting, and liking tweets. Users can also perform searches for tweets or look up specific user profiles. A distinctive aspect is its vibrant, customizable color output, enhancing readability and user experience in the terminal. It offers optional integration with external tools like w3mimgdisplay or libcaca for displaying images directly within the terminal, making it one of the most feature-rich CLI Twitter clients. rainbowstream is ideal for users who prefer working in a terminal environment and need quick, efficient access to their Twitter feed.

API Changes: Due to significant changes and restrictions in the Twitter (now X) API, rainbowstream may no longer function as expected or at all without updates to accommodate the new API access policies.
Dependencies: Requires Python and pip for installation. Image rendering requires additional tools like w3mimgdisplay or libcaca.
Authentication: Requires OAuth authentication with Twitter API keys, which is typically handled interactively on the first run.

Once rainbowstream is launched, it provides its own interactive prompt where users can execute various commands for Twitter interaction. Examples include: t (tweet), r (reply), rt (retweet), s (search), li (like), unli (unlike), f (follow), u (unfollow), dm (direct message), and q (quit/exit).

rainbowstream allows extensive customization through a configuration file (typically in ~/.rainbowstream). Users can modify themes, key bindings, auto-completion, and other display settings to personalize their experience.

Developed by Ora Karunakaran and first released around 2014-2015, rainbowstream quickly gained popularity as a feature-rich and visually appealing command-line Twitter client. Its development aimed to provide a comprehensive Twitter experience directly within the terminal, offering real-time streams and full interaction capabilities. Its continued functionality is heavily reliant on the evolving Twitter (X) API, which has undergone significant changes since its initial development.

curl(1), wget(1), tmux(1), screen(1), t(1)