pipes.sh

pipes.sh is a terminal‑based screensaver that animates randomly growing pipe‑like patterns across the screen. It runs as a command‑line program written in Bash and relies on ncurses for terminal control, supporting 24‑bit colors when the terminal reports a “direct” capability. The animation can be customized with a variety of built‑in pipe character sets, selectable via the `-t` option, or with a user‑defined 16‑character string for custom designs.

The tool is intended for developers or terminal enthusiasts who want a lightweight visual effect without leaving the command line. Interaction is minimal: any key exits the program, while specific keys adjust pipe straightness, frame rate, boldness, color usage, and edge‑crossing behavior in real time. Installation is handled through a simple Makefile, with support for system‑wide or user‑local prefixes, and a Homebrew formula is also available.

pipes.sh has been stable since its initial release in 2010, originating on the Arch Linux Forums and later placed in the public domain. It requires Bash 4+ and ncurses, and it can be invoked directly from a terminal or captured with screenshot tools that respect the terminal’s dimensions and padding.