Install lolcat with Homebrew

Project links

• Homepage

Commands and aliases

• lolcat

Project history

The official GitHub repository was created in August 2011. The README is minimal, showing the tool's visual output and installation commands for Linux and macOS rather than presenting a large manual.

The package follows the classic Unix filter pattern: install a small executable and pipe text through it to transform output. Its implementation is Ruby-only, and the repository includes a gemspec and man page alongside the `bin` and `lib` directories.

Adoption history

lolcat has broad package-manager presence for a toy CLI. The supplied package facts list Alpine, Homebrew, Debian, Fedora, MacPorts, Nix, Arch, and Ubuntu packages.

The official repository's star and fork counts show unusually high recognition for such a small utility, reflecting its spread through terminal screenshots, shell demos, and dotfile culture.

How it is used

Users typically pipe command output through `lolcat` to add rainbow color, or call `lolcat` directly on text files. The Homebrew package exposes the `lolcat` executable.

Because lolcat is cosmetic and does not manage state, it has no official config file or credentials file location.

Why package nerds care

lolcat is package-nerd significant because it is pure terminal whimsy that became a real cross-distro package. It is often installed not because it is necessary, but because it makes pipelines, demos, and shell prompts visibly fun.

Timeline

• 2011: Official GitHub repository created.
• 2010s: lolcat spreads across common Unix-like package managers.
• 2024: Official repository activity continues on GitHub.

Related projects

• lolcat is related to ANSI terminal color filters and shell-demo utilities, and is commonly combined with ordinary Unix commands through pipes.

Sources

• https://api.github.com/repos/busyloop/lolcat
• https://github.com/busyloop/lolcat#readme
• source_facts.package-manager