Difference between revisions of "UniXKCD"
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− | {{TOC}}On April Fools' Day in 2010, [[Randall Munroe|Randall]] altered [https://xkcd.com xkcd.com] to mimic a {{w|Unix}} command line interface. This interface is still available on [https://uni.xkcd.com uni.xkcd.com] and the source code is [https://github.com/chromakode/xkcdfools available on GitHub]. The comic [[721: Flatland]], which was released on March 31, 2010, was still up on April 1st, 2010, but had in itself nothing to do with the Unix interface. This Unix interface is thus in itself not one of Randall's [[:Category:April fools' comics|April fools' comics]]. The terminal only lists a few available commands, but most commands are undocumented. | + | {{TOC}}On April Fools' Day in 2010, [[Randall Munroe|Randall]] altered [https://xkcd.com xkcd.com] to mimic a {{w|Unix}} command line interface. This interface is still available on [https://uni.xkcd.com uni.xkcd.com] and the source code is [https://github.com/chromakode/xkcdfools available on GitHub]. The comic [[721: Flatland]], which was released on March 31, 2010, was still up on April 1st, 2010, but had in itself nothing to do with the Unix interface. This Unix interface is thus in itself not one of Randall's [[:Category: April fools' comics|April fools' comics]]. The terminal only lists a few available commands, but most commands are undocumented. |
==Documented commands== | ==Documented commands== | ||
− | * <code>next</code> shows the next comic. | + | * <code>next</code> shows the next comic. It shows the error "Time travel mode not enabled" on the last comic (see <code>enable time travel</code>). |
* <code>prev</code> shows the previous comic. | * <code>prev</code> shows the previous comic. | ||
* <code>first</code> shows the first comic. | * <code>first</code> shows the first comic. | ||
Line 16: | Line 15: | ||
==Undocumented commands== | ==Undocumented commands== | ||
* <code>:(){:|:&};:</code> This command, otherwise known as a [https://askubuntu.com/questions/159491/why-did-the-command-make-my-system-lag-so-badly-i-had-to-reboot shell fork bomb] will make the terminal display the <code>[. . .]</code> loading text indefinitely, as though it crashed. | * <code>:(){:|:&};:</code> This command, otherwise known as a [https://askubuntu.com/questions/159491/why-did-the-command-make-my-system-lag-so-badly-i-had-to-reboot shell fork bomb] will make the terminal display the <code>[. . .]</code> loading text indefinitely, as though it crashed. | ||
− | * <code>a/s/l</code> [https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=a%2Fs%2Fl A/S/L] is not a | + | * <code>a/s/l</code> [https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=a%2Fs%2Fl A/S/L] is not a Unix command, but an acronym of Age/Sex/Location. The following replies are possible: |
** "2/AMD64/Server Rack", answered as if the server replied. | ** "2/AMD64/Server Rack", answered as if the server replied. | ||
** "328/M/Transylvania", answered by {{w|Dracula}}. | ** "328/M/Transylvania", answered by {{w|Dracula}}. | ||
Line 25: | Line 24: | ||
** "7,831/F/Lothlórien", answered by {{w|Galadriel}} or another elf. | ** "7,831/F/Lothlórien", answered by {{w|Galadriel}} or another elf. | ||
** "42/M/FBI Field Office", answered by an FBI agent (referencing the old [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ThereAreNoGirlsOnTheInternet trope] that all girls on the internet are FBI agents impersonating them). | ** "42/M/FBI Field Office", answered by an FBI agent (referencing the old [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ThereAreNoGirlsOnTheInternet trope] that all girls on the internet are FBI agents impersonating them). | ||
− | * <code>apt-get</code> replies "This APT has Super Cow Powers.". The <code>apt-get</code> command is part of the Debian package manager {{w|Advanced_Packaging_Tool|APT}}. This reply is one of the | + | * <code>apt-get</code> replies "This APT has Super Cow Powers.". The <code>apt-get</code> command is part of the Debian package manager {{w|Advanced_Packaging_Tool|APT}}. This reply is one of the built-in Easter eggs. |
− | * <code>apt-get moo</code> replies "Have you mooed today" with an | + | * <code>apt-get moo</code> replies "Have you mooed today" with an ASCII cow. |
* <code>asl</code> same as <code>a/s/l</code>. | * <code>asl</code> same as <code>a/s/l</code>. | ||
* <code>bash</code> replies "You bash your head against the wall. It's not very effective.". {{w|Bash}} is a shell for POSIX-based systems. | * <code>bash</code> replies "You bash your head against the wall. It's not very effective.". {{w|Bash}} is a shell for POSIX-based systems. | ||
* <code>buy stuff</code> same as <code>cd store</code>. | * <code>buy stuff</code> same as <code>cd store</code>. | ||
* <code>cat [number]/alt.txt</code> displays the title text of the specified comic. | * <code>cat [number]/alt.txt</code> displays the title text of the specified comic. | ||
− | * <code>cat</code> (without a filename, or an invalid one) will show "You're a kitty!" referencing [[231: Cat Proximity]]. | + | * <code>cat</code> (without a filename, or an invalid one) will show "You're a kitty!", possibly referencing [[231: Cat Proximity]]. |
* <code>cheat</code> promotes the [https://store.xkcd.com/ xkcd store]. | * <code>cheat</code> promotes the [https://store.xkcd.com/ xkcd store]. | ||
* <code>clear</code> clears the screen. | * <code>clear</code> clears the screen. | ||
* <code>curl</code> creates an iframe to the URL specified | * <code>curl</code> creates an iframe to the URL specified | ||
− | * <code>date</code> replies "March 32nd". | + | * <code>date</code> replies "March 32nd" (instead of April 1st), which is not a real date.{{citation needed}} |
* <code>dir</code> same as <code>ls</code>. | * <code>dir</code> same as <code>ls</code>. | ||
+ | * <code>display title text</code> will print: display: unable to open image "title": No such file or directory. in red text. | ||
* <code>echo</code> replies "Echo ... echo ... echo ...". The {{w|Echo_(command)|echo}} command is used to print text to the terminal. | * <code>echo</code> replies "Echo ... echo ... echo ...". The {{w|Echo_(command)|echo}} command is used to print text to the terminal. | ||
− | * <code>ed</code> replies "You are not a diety ''[sic]''.". {{w|Ed_(text_editor)|ed}} is a very simple text editor. It is usually not considered very user friendly (see also <code>vi</code> and <code>emacs</code>). | + | * <code>ed</code> replies "You are not a diety ''[sic]''.". {{w|Ed_(text_editor)|ed}} is a very simple text editor. It is usually not considered very user-friendly (see also <code>vi</code> and <code>emacs</code>). |
− | * <code>emacs</code> replies "You should | + | * <code>emacs</code> replies "You should use Vim.". References [[378: Real Programmers]]. |
* <code>enable time travel</code> replies "TARDIS error: Time Lord missing.". A {{w|Doctor Who}} reference. See also the <code>next</code> command. | * <code>enable time travel</code> replies "TARDIS error: Time Lord missing.". A {{w|Doctor Who}} reference. See also the <code>next</code> command. | ||
* <code>exit</code> will end the terminal session. | * <code>exit</code> will end the terminal session. | ||
* <code>find kitten</code> showed the {{w|robotfindskitten}} game (the link to the Flash version no longer works, but an HTML version is available [http://robotfindskitten.org/play/robotfindskitten/ here]). | * <code>find kitten</code> showed the {{w|robotfindskitten}} game (the link to the Flash version no longer works, but an HTML version is available [http://robotfindskitten.org/play/robotfindskitten/ here]). | ||
* <code>find</code> replies "What do you want to find? Kitten would be nice.". | * <code>find</code> replies "What do you want to find? Kitten would be nice.". | ||
− | * <code>finger</code> replies "Mmmmmm...". | + | * <code>finger</code> replies "Mmmmmm...". <code>finger USER</code> is used on UNIX-like systems to get information about another USER (here, Randall is taking advantage of its suggestive name... pardon the pun). |
* <code>fuck</code> replies "I have a headache.". | * <code>fuck</code> replies "I have a headache.". | ||
* <code>goto [any]</code> shows comic [[292: goto]] and asks if you meant <code>display</code> instead. | * <code>goto [any]</code> shows comic [[292: goto]] and asks if you meant <code>display</code> instead. | ||
+ | * <code>go back</code> replies "You cannot go back." | ||
+ | * <code>go down</code> replies "On our first date?" | ||
* <code>halp</code> same as <code>help</code>. | * <code>halp</code> same as <code>help</code>. | ||
− | * <code> | + | * <code> Hello Joshua </code> replies "How about a nice game of Global Thermonuclear War?". A reference to the {{w|WarGames}} movie. |
− | * <code>hello</code> replies "Hello.". | + | * <code>hello</code> replies "Hello.". A second reply "Why hello there!" is coded, but it is never used. |
* <code>help</code> says "That would be cheating!". | * <code>help</code> says "That would be cheating!". | ||
* <code>hi</code> replies "Hi.". | * <code>hi</code> replies "Hi.". | ||
− | * <code>hint</code> randomly replies "We offer some | + | * <code>hint</code> randomly replies "We offer some nice polos.", "This terminal will remain available at xkcd.com/unixkcd/", "Use the source, Luke!" or "There are cheat codes.". |
* <code>i read the source code</code> replies "<3". | * <code>i read the source code</code> replies "<3". | ||
* <code>irc [nick]</code> starts an {{w|IRC}} session on the xkcd channel on irc.foonetic.net. | * <code>irc [nick]</code> starts an {{w|IRC}} session on the xkcd channel on irc.foonetic.net. | ||
* <code>kill</code> replies "Terminator deployed to 1984.". A reference to the {{w|The_Terminator|Terminator}} movie. In Bash, <code>kill</code> is used to end a process. | * <code>kill</code> replies "Terminator deployed to 1984.". A reference to the {{w|The_Terminator|Terminator}} movie. In Bash, <code>kill</code> is used to end a process. | ||
+ | * <code>latest</code> displays the latest comic. | ||
* <code>locate [filename]</code> is normally used to locate a file in a directory. It will give humorous results when searching for <code>ninja</code>, <code>keys</code>, <code>joke</code>, <code>problem</code> and <code>raptor</code>. | * <code>locate [filename]</code> is normally used to locate a file in a directory. It will give humorous results when searching for <code>ninja</code>, <code>keys</code>, <code>joke</code>, <code>problem</code> and <code>raptor</code>. | ||
* <code>logout</code> same as <code>exit</code>. | * <code>logout</code> same as <code>exit</code>. | ||
* <code>lpr</code> replies "PC LOAD LETTER". {{w|Line_Printer_Daemon_protocol|lpr}} is a command to print documents. {{w|PC_LOAD_LETTER}} is a printer error. | * <code>lpr</code> replies "PC LOAD LETTER". {{w|Line_Printer_Daemon_protocol|lpr}} is a command to print documents. {{w|PC_LOAD_LETTER}} is a printer error. | ||
− | * <code>make love</code> replies "I put on my robe and wizard hat.". A reference to this [http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/bloodninja roleplay chat transscript] (NSFW), also mentioned in [[442: xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel]]. <code>make love</code> is a standard | + | * <code>make love</code> replies "I put on my robe and wizard hat.". A reference to this [http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/bloodninja roleplay chat transscript] (NSFW), also mentioned in [[442: xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel]]. <code>make love</code> is a standard Unix joke, because the reply is "make: don't know how to make love.". |
* <code>make me a sandwich</code> behaves like [[149: Sandwich]]. | * <code>make me a sandwich</code> behaves like [[149: Sandwich]]. | ||
* <code>man [command]</code> show unhelpful information about the command (only <code>last</code>, <code>help</code>, <code>next</code>, <code>cat</code> or no command are supported). | * <code>man [command]</code> show unhelpful information about the command (only <code>last</code>, <code>help</code>, <code>next</code>, <code>cat</code> or no command are supported). | ||
Line 65: | Line 68: | ||
* <code>more</code> replies "Oh, yes! More! More!". The {{w|More_(command)|more}} command is used to paginate output. | * <code>more</code> replies "Oh, yes! More! More!". The {{w|More_(command)|more}} command is used to paginate output. | ||
* <code>nano</code> replies "Seriously? Why don't you just use Notepad.exe? Or MS Paint?". {{w|GNU_nano|Nano}} is another text editor for Unix systems (see <code>vi</code> and <code>emacs</code>). | * <code>nano</code> replies "Seriously? Why don't you just use Notepad.exe? Or MS Paint?". {{w|GNU_nano|Nano}} is another text editor for Unix systems (see <code>vi</code> and <code>emacs</code>). | ||
− | * <code>ping</code> replies "There is another submarine three miles ahead, bearing 225, forty fathoms down.". The {{w|Ping_(networking_utility)|ping}} command used to measure round trip times to a destination. The name does indeed originate from {{w|sonar}} technology. | + | * <code>ping</code> replies "There is another submarine three miles ahead, bearing 225, forty fathoms down.". The {{w|Ping_(networking_utility)|ping}} command is used to measure round trip times to a destination. The name does indeed originate from {{w|sonar}} technology. |
− | * <code>pwd</code> replies "You are in a maze of twisty passages, all alike.". The {{w|pwd}} command prints the current working directory (see <code>look</code>). | + | * <code>pwd</code> replies "You are in a maze of twisty passages, all alike.". The {{w|pwd}} command prints the current working directory (see <code>look</code>). The output is a reference to {{w|Colossal Cave Adventure}}. |
+ | * <code>poweroff</code> same as <code>shutdown</code>. | ||
* <code>quit</code> same as <code>exit</code>. | * <code>quit</code> same as <code>exit</code>. | ||
− | * <code>reddit [number]</code> shows the [https://www.reddit.com/ Reddit] voting bar for the specified comic (or xkcd when no number is specified). | + | * <code> reddit [number]</code> shows the [https://www.reddit.com/ Reddit] voting bar for the specified comic (or xkcd when no number is specified). |
* <code>rm [filename]</code> will "remove" a file, while <code>rm -r</code> will remove a directory. (<code>sudo rm -rf /</code> will break all commands until the page is reloaded.) | * <code>rm [filename]</code> will "remove" a file, while <code>rm -r</code> will remove a directory. (<code>sudo rm -rf /</code> will break all commands until the page is reloaded.) | ||
− | * <code>serenity</code> replies "You can't take the sky from me.". This is a line from the Balad of Serenity from the {{w|Firefly_(TV_series)|Firefly}} TV series. | + | * <code>serenity</code> replies "You can't take the sky from me.". This is a line from the Balad of Serenity from the {{w|Firefly_(TV_series)|Firefly}} TV series. Serenity is also the name of an Operating System (that Randall probably wasn't thinking of): [https://www.serenityos.org/ SerenityOS]. |
+ | * <code>shutdown</code> replies "Must be root.". See also <code>sudo poweroff</code>. | ||
* <code>ssh</code> replies "ssh, this is a library.". {{w|Secure_Shell|ssh}} is the command to start a secure shell, but it also resembles the "{{w|Shh}}" sound. | * <code>ssh</code> replies "ssh, this is a library.". {{w|Secure_Shell|ssh}} is the command to start a secure shell, but it also resembles the "{{w|Shh}}" sound. | ||
− | * <code>su</code> replies "God mode activated. Remember, with great power comes great ... aw, screw it, go have fun.". The {{w|Su_(Unix)|su}} command is used to log in as | + | * <code>su</code> replies "God mode activated. Remember, with great power comes great ... aw, screw it, go have fun.". The {{w|Su_(Unix)|su}} command is used to log in as an upper user, which gives you full and potentially dangerous access to the system. On some systems, "with great power comes great responsibility" is also part of a message that is printed the first time <code>sudo</code> is used. |
* <code>sudo [command]</code> executes the command with {{w|Superuser|root}} privileges. | * <code>sudo [command]</code> executes the command with {{w|Superuser|root}} privileges. | ||
* <code>sudo apt-get dist-upgrade</code> Returns "You are already running [OS].". | * <code>sudo apt-get dist-upgrade</code> Returns "You are already running [OS].". | ||
* <code>sudo apt-get moo</code> replies "Have you mooed today?" (apt-get Easter egg). | * <code>sudo apt-get moo</code> replies "Have you mooed today?" (apt-get Easter egg). | ||
* <code>sudo apt-get update</code> Refreshes the package list so the system knows which updates are available. | * <code>sudo apt-get update</code> Refreshes the package list so the system knows which updates are available. | ||
− | * <code>sudo apt-get upgrade</code> shows a link to [http://abetterbrowser.org/ A Better Browser] on Internet Explorer and Firefox (< v3). On all other browsers it doesn't complain. | + | * <code>sudo apt-get upgrade</code> shows a link to [http://abetterbrowser.org/ A Better Browser] on Internet Explorer and Firefox (< v3). On all other browsers, it doesn't complain. |
* <code>sudo make me a sandwich</code> behave like [[149: Sandwich]]. | * <code>sudo make me a sandwich</code> behave like [[149: Sandwich]]. | ||
* <code>sudo !!</code> will sudo the last command. | * <code>sudo !!</code> will sudo the last command. | ||
Line 84: | Line 89: | ||
* <code>sudo restart</code> same as <code>sudo reboot</code>. | * <code>sudo restart</code> same as <code>sudo reboot</code>. | ||
* <code>sudo shutdown</code> same as <code>sudo poweroff</code>. | * <code>sudo shutdown</code> same as <code>sudo poweroff</code>. | ||
− | * <code>sudo sudo</code> will print <span style=" | + | * <code>sudo sudo</code> will print <span style=" colour: red;">An internal error occurred: RangeError: Maximum call stack size exceeded</span> in red text. |
* <code>time travel</code> displays [[630: Time Travel]]. | * <code>time travel</code> displays [[630: Time Travel]]. | ||
* <code>top</code> replies "It's up there --^". The {{w|Top_(software)|top}} command shows a table of processes. Here it is taken literally. | * <code>top</code> replies "It's up there --^". The {{w|Top_(software)|top}} command shows a table of processes. Here it is taken literally. | ||
Line 91: | Line 96: | ||
* <code>use the force luke</code> replies "I believe you mean source.". A reference to the {{w|The_Force_(Star_Wars)|Force}} in the {{w|Star Wars}} franchise. | * <code>use the force luke</code> replies "I believe you mean source.". A reference to the {{w|The_Force_(Star_Wars)|Force}} in the {{w|Star Wars}} franchise. | ||
* <code>use the source luke</code> replies "I'm not luke, you're luke!", an old programmers' joke. | * <code>use the source luke</code> replies "I'm not luke, you're luke!", an old programmers' joke. | ||
− | * <code>vi</code> reply "You should | + | * <code>vi</code> reply "You should use emacs.". References [[378: Real Programmers]]. |
* <code>vim</code> same as <code>vi</code>. | * <code>vim</code> same as <code>vi</code>. | ||
− | * <code>wget [url]</code> shows the content of the specified url. The {{w|wget}} command on | + | * <code>wget [url]</code> shows the content of the specified url. The {{w|wget}} command on Unix will download the content and not show it. |
* <code>who</code> replies "Doctor Who?". Another {{w|Doctor Who}} reference. The <code>who</code> command on Unix lists the logged-in users. | * <code>who</code> replies "Doctor Who?". Another {{w|Doctor Who}} reference. The <code>who</code> command on Unix lists the logged-in users. | ||
− | * <code> | + | * <code> Whoami </code> replies "You are Richard Stallman.". The {{w|whoami}} command lists the name of the current user. Richard Stallman is the creator of the GNU project and the Free Software Foundation. |
* <code>write [nick]</code> same as <code>irc</code>. | * <code>write [nick]</code> same as <code>irc</code>. | ||
* <code>xkcd</code> replies "Yes?". | * <code>xkcd</code> replies "Yes?". | ||
* <code>xyzzy</code> replies "Nothing happens.". {{w|Xyzzy_(computing)|xyzzy}} is a magic word, originally used in the game {{w|Colossal Cave Adventure}}. | * <code>xyzzy</code> replies "Nothing happens.". {{w|Xyzzy_(computing)|xyzzy}} is a magic word, originally used in the game {{w|Colossal Cave Adventure}}. | ||
* <code>your gay</code> replies "Keep your hands off it!". | * <code>your gay</code> replies "Keep your hands off it!". | ||
+ | * <code>!!</code> reruns the previous command after stating the command. | ||
===Game commands=== | ===Game commands=== | ||
* There are also some other commands borrowed from a {{w|Zork}} like {{w|Text-based game|text based adventure game}}. | * There are also some other commands borrowed from a {{w|Zork}} like {{w|Text-based game|text based adventure game}}. | ||
* <code>look</code> describes your current surroundings. | * <code>look</code> describes your current surroundings. | ||
− | * <code>go [direction]</code> moves you in the specified direction | + | * <code>go [direction]</code> moves you in the specified direction. |
* <code>light lamp</code> lights your lamp. | * <code>light lamp</code> lights your lamp. | ||
− | * <code>sleep [seconds]</code> sleeps for the specified time. Without specifying, the nap is 5 seconds. You will be killed by a {{w|Grue (monster)|grue}} if you | + | * <code>sleep [seconds]</code> sleeps for the specified time. Without specifying, the nap is 5 seconds. |
+ | * You will be killed by a {{w|Grue (monster)|grue}} if you don't light your lamp when going south. Going West repeatedly will list the refrain from the song {{w|Go West (song)|Go West}}. | ||
===Konami code=== | ===Konami code=== | ||
[[File:Konami code.png|300px|thumb|The image used as the background after using the Konami code five times.]] | [[File:Konami code.png|300px|thumb|The image used as the background after using the Konami code five times.]] | ||
The terminal also responds to the {{w|Konami code}} Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A. Entering this code repeatedly will, in order: | The terminal also responds to the {{w|Konami code}} Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A. Entering this code repeatedly will, in order: | ||
− | # Transform all characters to | + | # Transform all characters to uppercase |
− | # Add a | + | # Add a greatest shadow |
− | # Add an orange text shadow | + | # Add an orange text-shadow |
# Shake the screen | # Shake the screen | ||
# Add a background image of [[Richard Stallman]] from [[345: 1337: Part 5]]. | # Add a background image of [[Richard Stallman]] from [[345: 1337: Part 5]]. | ||
Line 119: | Line 126: | ||
[[Category:April fools' comics]] | [[Category:April fools' comics]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Richard Stallman]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Richard Stallman]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Computers]] |
Latest revision as of 15:40, 5 July 2024
On April Fools' Day in 2010, Randall altered xkcd.com to mimic a Unix command line interface. This interface is still available on uni.xkcd.com and the source code is available on GitHub. The comic 721: Flatland, which was released on March 31, 2010, was still up on April 1st, 2010, but had in itself nothing to do with the Unix interface. This Unix interface is thus in itself not one of Randall's April fools' comics. The terminal only lists a few available commands, but most commands are undocumented.
Documented commands[edit]
-
next
shows the next comic. It shows the error "Time travel mode not enabled" on the last comic (seeenable time travel
). -
prev
shows the previous comic. -
first
shows the first comic. -
last
shows the last comic. -
display [number]
shows the comic with the specified number. (Trying to display comic 404 will result in an endless loading attempt.) -
random
shows a random comic. -
ls
shows the content of the current directory. -
cat [filename]
shows the content of the file, or "You're a kitty!" if [filename] is left blank. -
cd [directory]
changes to the specified directory.
Undocumented commands[edit]
-
:(){:|:&};:
This command, otherwise known as a shell fork bomb will make the terminal display the[. . .]
loading text indefinitely, as though it crashed. -
a/s/l
A/S/L is not a Unix command, but an acronym of Age/Sex/Location. The following replies are possible:- "2/AMD64/Server Rack", answered as if the server replied.
- "328/M/Transylvania", answered by Dracula.
- "6/M/Battle School", answered by Ender Wiggin or another boy from battle school.
- "48/M/The White House", answered by Barack Obama or another male of the same age in the White House.
- "7/F/Rapture", answered by a Little Sister from BioShock.
- "Exactly your age/A gender you're attracted to/Far far away.", Requests for a/s/l are often not answered truthfully, but crafted to suit the one asking the question.
- "7,831/F/Lothlórien", answered by Galadriel or another elf.
- "42/M/FBI Field Office", answered by an FBI agent (referencing the old trope that all girls on the internet are FBI agents impersonating them).
-
apt-get
replies "This APT has Super Cow Powers.". Theapt-get
command is part of the Debian package manager APT. This reply is one of the built-in Easter eggs. -
apt-get moo
replies "Have you mooed today" with an ASCII cow. -
asl
same asa/s/l
. -
bash
replies "You bash your head against the wall. It's not very effective.". Bash is a shell for POSIX-based systems. -
buy stuff
same ascd store
. -
cat [number]/alt.txt
displays the title text of the specified comic. -
cat
(without a filename, or an invalid one) will show "You're a kitty!", possibly referencing 231: Cat Proximity. -
cheat
promotes the xkcd store. -
clear
clears the screen. -
curl
creates an iframe to the URL specified -
date
replies "March 32nd" (instead of April 1st), which is not a real date.[citation needed] -
dir
same asls
. -
display title text
will print: display: unable to open image "title": No such file or directory. in red text. -
echo
replies "Echo ... echo ... echo ...". The echo command is used to print text to the terminal. -
ed
replies "You are not a diety [sic].". ed is a very simple text editor. It is usually not considered very user-friendly (see alsovi
andemacs
). -
emacs
replies "You should use Vim.". References 378: Real Programmers. -
enable time travel
replies "TARDIS error: Time Lord missing.". A Doctor Who reference. See also thenext
command. -
exit
will end the terminal session. -
find kitten
showed the robotfindskitten game (the link to the Flash version no longer works, but an HTML version is available here). -
find
replies "What do you want to find? Kitten would be nice.". -
finger
replies "Mmmmmm...".finger USER
is used on UNIX-like systems to get information about another USER (here, Randall is taking advantage of its suggestive name... pardon the pun). -
fuck
replies "I have a headache.". -
goto [any]
shows comic 292: goto and asks if you meantdisplay
instead. -
go back
replies "You cannot go back." -
go down
replies "On our first date?" -
halp
same ashelp
. -
Hello Joshua
replies "How about a nice game of Global Thermonuclear War?". A reference to the WarGames movie. -
hello
replies "Hello.". A second reply "Why hello there!" is coded, but it is never used. -
help
says "That would be cheating!". -
hi
replies "Hi.". -
hint
randomly replies "We offer some nice polos.", "This terminal will remain available at xkcd.com/unixkcd/", "Use the source, Luke!" or "There are cheat codes.". -
i read the source code
replies "<3". -
irc [nick]
starts an IRC session on the xkcd channel on irc.foonetic.net. -
kill
replies "Terminator deployed to 1984.". A reference to the Terminator movie. In Bash,kill
is used to end a process. -
latest
displays the latest comic. -
locate [filename]
is normally used to locate a file in a directory. It will give humorous results when searching forninja
,keys
,joke
,problem
andraptor
. -
logout
same asexit
. -
lpr
replies "PC LOAD LETTER". lpr is a command to print documents. PC_LOAD_LETTER is a printer error. -
make love
replies "I put on my robe and wizard hat.". A reference to this roleplay chat transscript (NSFW), also mentioned in 442: xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel.make love
is a standard Unix joke, because the reply is "make: don't know how to make love.". -
make me a sandwich
behaves like 149: Sandwich. -
man [command]
show unhelpful information about the command (onlylast
,help
,next
,cat
or no command are supported). -
moo
replies "moo". -
more
replies "Oh, yes! More! More!". The more command is used to paginate output. -
nano
replies "Seriously? Why don't you just use Notepad.exe? Or MS Paint?". Nano is another text editor for Unix systems (seevi
andemacs
). -
ping
replies "There is another submarine three miles ahead, bearing 225, forty fathoms down.". The ping command is used to measure round trip times to a destination. The name does indeed originate from sonar technology. -
pwd
replies "You are in a maze of twisty passages, all alike.". The pwd command prints the current working directory (seelook
). The output is a reference to Colossal Cave Adventure. -
poweroff
same asshutdown
. -
quit
same asexit
. -
reddit [number]
shows the Reddit voting bar for the specified comic (or xkcd when no number is specified). -
rm [filename]
will "remove" a file, whilerm -r
will remove a directory. (sudo rm -rf /
will break all commands until the page is reloaded.) -
serenity
replies "You can't take the sky from me.". This is a line from the Balad of Serenity from the Firefly TV series. Serenity is also the name of an Operating System (that Randall probably wasn't thinking of): SerenityOS. -
shutdown
replies "Must be root.". See alsosudo poweroff
. -
ssh
replies "ssh, this is a library.". ssh is the command to start a secure shell, but it also resembles the "Shh" sound. -
su
replies "God mode activated. Remember, with great power comes great ... aw, screw it, go have fun.". The su command is used to log in as an upper user, which gives you full and potentially dangerous access to the system. On some systems, "with great power comes great responsibility" is also part of a message that is printed the first timesudo
is used. -
sudo [command]
executes the command with root privileges. -
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
Returns "You are already running [OS].". -
sudo apt-get moo
replies "Have you mooed today?" (apt-get Easter egg). -
sudo apt-get update
Refreshes the package list so the system knows which updates are available. -
sudo apt-get upgrade
shows a link to A Better Browser on Internet Explorer and Firefox (< v3). On all other browsers, it doesn't complain. -
sudo make me a sandwich
behave like 149: Sandwich. -
sudo !!
will sudo the last command. -
sudo poweroff
will shutdown the system. -
sudo reboot
will restart the system. -
sudo restart
same assudo reboot
. -
sudo shutdown
same assudo poweroff
. -
sudo sudo
will print An internal error occurred: RangeError: Maximum call stack size exceeded in red text. -
time travel
displays 630: Time Travel. -
top
replies "It's up there --^". The top command shows a table of processes. Here it is taken literally. -
uname
replies "Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator".uname
on Unix lists system information. The Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator is an explosive device created by Marvin the Martian in the Looney Tunes series. -
unixkcd
opens a new terminal window. -
use the force luke
replies "I believe you mean source.". A reference to the Force in the Star Wars franchise. -
use the source luke
replies "I'm not luke, you're luke!", an old programmers' joke. -
vi
reply "You should use emacs.". References 378: Real Programmers. -
vim
same asvi
. -
wget [url]
shows the content of the specified url. The wget command on Unix will download the content and not show it. -
who
replies "Doctor Who?". Another Doctor Who reference. Thewho
command on Unix lists the logged-in users. -
Whoami
replies "You are Richard Stallman.". The whoami command lists the name of the current user. Richard Stallman is the creator of the GNU project and the Free Software Foundation. -
write [nick]
same asirc
. -
xkcd
replies "Yes?". -
xyzzy
replies "Nothing happens.". xyzzy is a magic word, originally used in the game Colossal Cave Adventure. -
your gay
replies "Keep your hands off it!". -
!!
reruns the previous command after stating the command.
Game commands[edit]
- There are also some other commands borrowed from a Zork like text based adventure game.
-
look
describes your current surroundings. -
go [direction]
moves you in the specified direction. -
light lamp
lights your lamp. -
sleep [seconds]
sleeps for the specified time. Without specifying, the nap is 5 seconds. - You will be killed by a grue if you don't light your lamp when going south. Going West repeatedly will list the refrain from the song Go West.
Konami code[edit]
The terminal also responds to the Konami code Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A. Entering this code repeatedly will, in order:
- Transform all characters to uppercase
- Add a greatest shadow
- Add an orange text-shadow
- Shake the screen
- Add a background image of Richard Stallman from 345: 1337: Part 5.