Last Updated on September 21, 2020
This article is retained for historic interest only. Please see the updated article.
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 will examine tools that capture the command line.
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 flash video, and provides a powerful educational tool.
As broadband has become mainstream and video-sharing websites are ten a penny, this has encouraged the development of a wide selection of free and open source screencasting tools. In the field of plain text screencasting, there are two web services that stand out. Playterm and Shelr both allow you to embed terminal recordings online.
To provide an insight into the quality of software that is available, we have compiled a list of 4 useful Linux plain text screencasting tools. All of these tools are released under a freely distributable license.
So let’s explore the 4 screencasting tools at hand. For each application we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, a screenshot, together with links to relevant resources and reviews. Start recording activities today!
| Plain Text Screencasting Tools | |
|---|---|
| Shelr | Ruby and Rails software that broadcasts plain text screencasts |
| ttyrec | Terminal recorder, incudes a playback tool |
| IPBT | High-tec terminal player |
| termrec | Set of tools for recording and replaying tty sessions |
 Read our complete collection of recommended free and open source software. Our curated compilation covers all categories of software. 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. |