macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install lolcatlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install lolcatMacPorts ports tree · sysutils/lolcat/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install lolcat with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman
Rainbows and unicorns in your console! Version 100.0.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-06.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add lolcatAlpine Linux edge package indexes · lolcat · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install lolcatDebian stable package indexes · lolcat · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install lolcatFedora Rawhide package metadata · lolcat · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#lolcatnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/lo/lolcat/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S lolcatArch Linux sync databases · lolcat · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
overview
Package summary
Rainbows and unicorns in your console!
Project links
Commands and aliases
- lolcat
history
Project history and usage
lolcat is a small Ruby command-line program for coloring terminal output with rainbow ANSI colors. Its upstream description is intentionally playful: 'Rainbows and unicorns!'
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
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 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 1 runtime 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
lolcat | 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 version100.0.1
manager updated2026-06-06
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://github.com/busyloop/lolcat
- infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/busyloop/lolcatnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:lolcat |
|---|---|
| Version | 100.0.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/lolcat |
| Homepage | https://github.com/busyloop/lolcat |
| Repository | https://github.com/busyloop/lolcat |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/busyloop/lolcat#readme |
| License | BSD-3-Clause |
| Source archive | https://github.com/busyloop/lolcat.git |
| Last updated | 2026-06-06T17:04:14Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | ruby |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, 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 | lolcat |
| 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%
lolcat 100.0.1-4
colorful `cat`
https://github.com/busyloop/lolcat
sudo apt install lolcat- Section: games
- Architecture: all
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lolcat
Nix95%
lolcat
nix profile install nixpkgs#lolcat- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lolcat
Ubuntu apt95%
lolcat 100.0.1-3
colorful `cat`
https://github.com/busyloop/lolcat
sudo apt install lolcat- Section: universe/games
- Architecture: all
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lolcat
apk95%
lolcat 1.4-r0
High-performance implementation of lolcat
https://github.com/jaseg/lolcat/
sudo apk add lolcat- License: WTFPL
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lolcat
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lolcat
dnf95%
lolcat 1.5-5.fc44
High-performance implementation of a colorful cat
https://github.com/jaseg/lolcat/
sudo dnf install lolcat- License: WTFPL
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lolcat
- 3 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lolcat
pacman95%
lolcat 100.0.1-5
Okay, no unicorns. But rainbows!!
https://github.com/busyloop/lolcat
sudo pacman -S lolcat- License: custom
- Architecture: any
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lolcat
MacPorts95%
lolcat
sudo port install lolcat- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lolcat
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