Christian WellsWhat Is CMatrix?
CMatrix is a simple but fun terminal program that makes your screen look like the green “digital rain” effect from The Matrix movies. It’s a cool way to make your terminal stand out or just enjoy a nostalgic hacker vibe.
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to install and use CMatrix on a Shape.Host VPS running Ubuntu 24.04.
Step 1: Create a Cloud VPS on Shape.Host
Before installing anything, you need a cloud server to run Ubuntu and CMatrix. Here’s how to create one using Shape.Host:
Go to https://shape.host and log into your account (create one if you’re new).
Click “Create” from the dashboard.
Choose the Instance option.
Select a data center location close to you or your target users.
Pick a hosting plan — even the most basic plan is enough to run CMatrix.
Under Operating System, choose Ubuntu 24.04 (64-bit).
Click “Create Instance” and wait a few seconds.
Once the instance is created, go to the Resources section to find the public IP address of your instance. You will use this to connect to the instance remotely.
Step 2: Connect to Your VPS via SSH
To install CMatrix, first connect to your new Ubuntu VPS.
On Linux or macOS:
Open your terminal and type:
ssh root@your_server_ip
On Windows:
Use PuTTY or the Windows Terminal.
- Host:
your_server_ip - Username:
root - Password: Use the one provided by Shape.Host
Once you’re in, you’re ready to roll.
Step 3: Update Your System
Let’s make sure everything is up-to-date:
apt update
Step 4: Install CMatrix
Now install CMatrix using this simple command:
apt install cmatrix
Step 5: Run CMatrix
Try running it right away:
cmatrix
You’ll instantly see the green digital rain effect in your terminal.
To exit, just press Ctrl + C.
Step 6: Check the Installed Version
To verify your installation or see what version is installed:
cmatrix -V
Step 7: Customize CMatrix (Optional Fun Stuff)
CMatrix has several options you can mix and match. Here’s a breakdown:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-s | Screensaver mode — keeps running until a key is pressed |
-b | Bold characters — makes text brighter |
-C [color] | Change color — try red, blue, yellow, green, cyan, etc. |
-u [time] | Speed — lower number = faster falling characters (in microseconds) |
-a | Asynchronous scroll — characters fall randomly |
-r | Reverse direction — scrolls upward instead of downward |
Step 8: Try an Awesome Custom Command
Here’s an example of a cool Matrix effect with a twist:
cmatrix -s -b -C red -u 50000 -a
This command:
- Runs in screensaver mode (
-s) - Uses bold text (
-b) - Sets color to red (
-C red) - Makes characters fall fast (
-u 50000) - Scrolls randomly (
-a)
Step 9: How to Stop CMatrix
Just press:
Ctrl + C
And you’ll return to your regular terminal prompt.
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