A glowing terminal screensaver that keeps your Mac awake.
Install
From this repo:
make install javalamp
After the PyPI release:
pipx install javalamp javalamp
Requires Python 3.10+ and pipx. On macOS:
brew install pipx
Run
javalamp # open the scene picker javalamp java # play the Java scene javalamp matrix # play one scene directly javalamp --cycle # rotate through every scene javalamp -l # list scenes
While the picker or a scene is running:
arrows navigate
enter play
t cycle theme
q quit
What It Does
- Runs animated ASCII scenes in your terminal.
- Defaults to the warm
sunsettheme. - Keeps your Mac awake with
caffeinate -d -iwhile running. - Restores your terminal cleanly when you quit.
- Lets you add custom scenes in
~/.config/javalamp/scenes/.
Disable the macOS sleep guard when you want:
javalamp --no-caffeinate
Develop
python -m venv .venv source .venv/bin/activate pip install -e ".[dev]" pytest
Useful repo shortcuts:
make reinstall # update the global command after editing make test # run tests make list # list scenes
Regenerate README media:
PYTHONPATH=src python scripts/render_readme_assets.py
Custom Scenes
javalamp new-scene lava javalamp check-scene lava javalamp lava
See SCENE_GUIDE.md for the tiny scene API.