sm is a command-line tool that displays a short message on the screen in fullscreen mode. It is designed to be a simple and lightweight way to communicate messages to users, particularly in situations where other communication methods may not be available or visible.
sm works by creating a new terminal window and displaying the message in fullscreen mode, using ASCII art or Unicode characters to create a visually appealing message. The message can be customized with various options, such as changing the font size, background color, or animation style. Messages can also be saved to files for later use, allowing for easy reuse or customization.
sm is particularly useful for system administrators who need to communicate messages to users in a quick and visible way, such as during maintenance or outage periods. It can also be used in educational settings or for public announcements where a fullscreen message may be more noticeable than a standard message or email.
If you encounter the below error while running the command sm:
sm: command not found
you may try installing the below package as per your choice of distribution:
| Distribution | Command |
|---|---|
| Debian | apt-get install inn2 |
| Ubuntu | apt-get install inn2 |
| Arch Linux | pacman -S inn |
| Kali Linux | apt-get install inn2 |
| Fedora | dnf install jabberd |
| Raspbian | apt-get install inn2 |
sm Command Examples
1. Display a message in full-screen:
# sm "Hello World!"
2. Display a message with inverted colors:
# sm -i "Hello World!"
3. Display a message with a custom foreground color:
# sm -f blue "Hello World!"
4. Display a message with a custom background color:
# sm -b #008888 "Hello World!"
5. Display a message rotated 3 times (in steps of 90 degrees, counterclockwise):
# sm -r 3 "Hello World!"
6. Display a message using the output from another command:
# echo "Hello World!" | sm -
Summary
Overall, sm is a simple yet powerful tool for displaying fullscreen messages on the screen. Its customizable options and support for ASCII art and Unicode characters make it a popular choice for system administrators, educators, and others who need to communicate messages to users in a visible and effective way.