The vast majority of computer users depend on a graphical user interface, and fear the command line. However, the command line holds significant power and versatility. Commands issued from a shell offer system administrators a quick and easy way to update, configure and repair a system.
The benefits of the command line are not only confined to system administration. The ability to transverse the file system quickly, give more information about files and directories, automate tasks, bring together the power of multiple console tools in a single command line, and run shell scripts are just a few examples of how the command line can offer a potent, multifarious toolbox.
A screencast is a digital recording of computer screen output, often carrying audio narration. Screencasting software takes a series of screenshots of a running application, recording the user’s actions, and creating a video file. This type of software was brought into prominence by the commercial Windows application Lotus ScreenCam in 1994. The vast majority of screencasting tools capture a graphical environment. However, here we examine tools that capture your terminal sessions. Think of them as console screencasting tools.
Screencasts have a wide variety of uses. This type of software is often deployed to describe software projects, report bugs, and for evaluating technical skills. Plain text screencasting lets you explain and perform commands at the same time, simultaneously offering a tutorial and showcase. Further, plain text screencasting uses less bandwidth than video, and provides a powerful educational tool.
Here’s our verdict captured in a legendary LinuxLinks-style ratings chart. Only free and open source software is eligible for inclusion.
Click the links in the table below to learn more about each program.
| Console Screencasting Tools / Terminal Session Recording | |
|---|---|
| Terminalizer | Generates animated GIF images of your terminal |
| asciinema | Record and share terminal sessions |
| ttystudio | Excellent terminal-to-gif recorder |
| agg | asciinema gif generator |
| ffscreencast | Shell wrapper for ffmpeg that allows fool-proof screen recording |
| tty2gif | Record scripts into both binary and gif formats |
| TermRecord | Terminal session recorder with easy-to-share self-contained HTML output |
| IPBT | High-tec terminal player |
| ttyrec | Terminal recorder, incudes a playback tool |
| termtosvg | Render SVG animations of shell sessions |
| termrec | Set of tools for recording and replaying tty sessions |
| screencast | Interface to record a X11 desktop |
| Showterm | Terminal record and upload utility |
| Shelr | Broadcast plain text screencasts |
| script | The granddaddy of terminal recorders |
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 Read our complete collection of recommended free and open source software. Our curated compilation covers all categories of software. Spotted a useful open source Linux program not covered on our site? Please let us know by completing this form. The software collection forms part of our series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. There are hundreds of in-depth reviews, open source alternatives to proprietary software from large corporations like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. There are also fun things to try, hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. |