What should you do if you need system information to show off in your Linux desktop shot?
Are the alternatives any good?
What Is Neofetch?
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Neofetchis ostensiblya tool to gather system information on an operating system.
It displays details like the Linux distribution, CPU, and the desktop environment or terminal emulator youre using.
But the most popular feature is the display of the OS logo in ASCII art.
This is what makes Neofetch so popular for making screenshots; ASCII art just looks cool.
What Is Happening to the Project?
This follows several years of apparent inactivity on the project.
Since its open source,anyone can take the existing code and fork itto continue development.
At least one developer has already done so,announcing it on Hacker News.
This can lead to developer burnout.
Its even resulted in security problems slipping by without notice.
Can I Still Use Neofetch?
If you have Neofetch installed on your Linux system, you dont need to find a replacement right away.
Over time, Neofetch may not be able to detect newer distros and could become a security risk.
If you use a popular distribution like Ubuntu, this is less likely to be an issue.
Your distros maintainers will likely make a decision about the Neofetch package.
Where Can I Find a Replacement for Neofetch?
There are several programs you’re able to use to replace Neofetch.
1.Fastfetch
If you use Neofetch for screenshots, this looks like the most promising replacement.
2.hwinfo
This is a useful tool if you use Neofetch to obtain information about your hardware.
It can be useful for troubleshooting your Linux installation, though.
You even get an ASCII art RAM stick in your terminal.
Whats not to love about that?
This is of more use to developers than regular users.
