macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install cmatrixlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install cmatrixMacPorts ports tree · games/cmatrix/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install cmatrix with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Console Matrix. Version 2.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add cmatrixAlpine Linux edge package indexes · cmatrix · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install cmatrixDebian stable package indexes · cmatrix · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install cmatrixFedora Rawhide package metadata · cmatrix · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#cmatrixnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/cm/cmatrix/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S cmatrixArch Linux sync databases · cmatrix · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install cmatrixopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · cmatrix · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Console Matrix
Project links
Commands and aliases
- cmatrix
history
Project history and usage
CMatrix is a terminal animation that recreates the falling-code look associated with The Matrix. Its appeal is deliberately simple: it is a small ncurses-style command that turns a terminal into a screensaver-like visual toy.
Project history
The current upstream README credits Chris Allegretta with writing cmatrix and later handing maintenance to the present GitHub project. The README describes the program as based on the Matrix website screensaver and inspired by the 1999 film's visual style.
The GitHub repository was created in 2013 and preserves the old Unix terminal-tool form: build with autotools or CMake, install the binary, and run `cmatrix` for the effect.
Adoption history
CMatrix became a stock package-manager novelty because it has almost no conceptual setup, is instantly recognizable in demos, and works as a harmless terminal animation. The input package facts list it across Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora/dnf, Arch/pacman, Alpine/apk, MacPorts, Nix, and openSUSE/zypper.
How it is used
The README documents simple invocation as `cmatrix`, with options such as update speed and color. It also documents movie-like presets such as `cmatrix -lba`, which is the kind of one-command payoff that made it common in screenshots, shell demos, and terminal customization posts.
Why package nerds care
For package nerds, CMatrix is the archetypal terminal toy: tiny, visual, easy to package, and useful as a smoke test for curses, terminal color, and font behavior. It is not infrastructure, but it is culturally durable in Unix package sets because it demonstrates that package managers carry fun as well as work.
Timeline
- 2013: Current GitHub repository created.
- 2017: GitHub release 1.2 published as a stable release.
- 2019: GitHub release v2.0 published.
- 2024: Current repository still receives maintenance activity.
Related projects
- The README explicitly relates CMatrix to the Matrix website screensaver and credits jwz's `xmatrix` module for XScreenSaver as an influence in its contributor notes.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 13 platform targets.
- Build metadata lists 2 build dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
cmatrix | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version2.0
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv2.0
https://github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:cmatrix |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/cmatrix |
| Homepage | https://github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix#readme |
| License | GPL-3.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix/archive/refs/tags/v2.0.tar.gz |
| Build dependencies | autoconf, automake |
| Uses from macOS | ncurses |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | cmatrix |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
cmatrix 2.0-6
simulates the display from "The Matrix"
https://github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix
sudo apt install cmatrix- Section: misc
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cmatrix
Debian apt95%
cmatrix-xfont 2.0-6
X11 font for cmatrix
https://github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix
sudo apt install cmatrix-xfont- Section: x11
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: cmatrix
- 1 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cmatrix
Nix95%
cmatrix
nix profile install nixpkgs#cmatrix- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cmatrix
Ubuntu apt95%
cmatrix 2.0-6
simulates the display from "The Matrix"
https://github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix
sudo apt install cmatrix- Section: universe/misc
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cmatrix
Ubuntu apt95%
cmatrix-xfont 2.0-6
X11 font for cmatrix
https://github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix
sudo apt install cmatrix-xfont- Section: universe/x11
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: cmatrix
- 1 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cmatrix
apk95%
cmatrix 2.0-r2
Terminal based 'The Matrix' like implementation
https://github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix
sudo apk add cmatrix- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: cmatrix
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cmatrix
apk95%
cmatrix-doc 2.0-r2
Terminal based 'The Matrix' like implementation (documentation)
https://github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix
sudo apk add cmatrix-doc- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: cmatrix
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cmatrix
dnf95%
cmatrix 2.0-14.fc44
A scrolling 'Matrix'-like screen
https://github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix
sudo dnf install cmatrix- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: cmatrix
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cmatrix
dnf95%
cmatrix-x11-fonts 2.0-14.fc44
The font of 'Matrix' for X11
https://github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix
sudo dnf install cmatrix-x11-fonts- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: cmatrix
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cmatrix
pacman95%
cmatrix 2.0-4
A curses-based scrolling 'Matrix'-like screen
sudo pacman -S cmatrix- License: GPL3
- Architecture: x86_64
- 1 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cmatrix
zypper95%
cmatrix 2.0-1.4
The Matrix screensaver
https://github.com/abishekvashok/cmatrix
sudo zypper install cmatrix- License: GPL-3.0-only
- Category: Amusements/Games/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: cmatrix
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cmatrix
MacPorts95%
cmatrix
sudo port install cmatrix- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cmatrix
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment