https://github.com/mstill3/cowsay-files
Collection of my favorite ASCII art that is rendered in the `cowsay` command
https://github.com/mstill3/cowsay-files
art ascii ascii-art cli cow cows cowsay linux terminal
Last synced: 24 days ago
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Collection of my favorite ASCII art that is rendered in the `cowsay` command
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/mstill3/cowsay-files
- Owner: mstill3
- Created: 2024-05-27T17:56:40.000Z (about 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-02-23T20:38:52.000Z (4 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-02-24T02:59:48.535Z (3 months ago)
- Topics: art, ascii, ascii-art, cli, cow, cows, cowsay, linux, terminal
- Homepage: https://stillwell.dev/cows
- Size: 338 KB
- Stars: 1
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# cowsay cow collection
ASCII art collection tailored for use with the [`cowsay` command](https://linux.die.net/man/1/cowsay).
> `cowsay` defines a "cow" as any ASCII art creation that presents a message in a playful and engaging way
```text
_________________________________
< Welcome to my cowsay collection >
---------------------------------
\ ^__^
\ (oo)\_______
(__)\ )\/\
||----w |
|| ||
```
## Resources
- [cowsay-files playground](https://stillwell.dev/cows)
## Setup
1. Install `cowsay` command
- Linux
```bash
sudo apt get install cowsay
```
- MacOS
```bash
brew install cowsay
```
2. Persist `COWPATH` environment variable
> Default path `/usr/share/cowsay/cows`
```bash
echo "export COWPATH=\"~/.cows\"" >> ~/.bashrc
```
3. Copy over desired `*.cow` files into `$COWPATH` directory, i.e.
```bash
cp cows/angel.cow $COWPATH
```
## Usage
Provide the name of the copied cow file in the format
```bash
echo "$message" | cowsay -f $filename
```
i.e.
```bash
echo "Peace be to Earth" | cowsay -f angel
```
Outputs
```text
___________________
< Peace be to Earth >
-------------------
\
==
<^\()/^>
\/ \/
/ \
`''` jgs
```
## Notable ASCII Artists
- [Famous ASCII Artists List](https://www.asciiart.eu/ascii-artists/famous)
- Joan G. Stark (Spunk) (jgs)
- [Personal Website](http://www.ascii-art.com)
- [Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Stark)
- Michael Lazar (mozz)
- [Website](https://mozz.us)
- Shanaka Dias (snd)
- - [Website](http://asciiart.website/artist.php?artist_id=121&page=1)
- Rowan Crawford (Row)
- [Art Repository](https://the.sunnyspot.org/asciiart/gallery/art08.html)
- Lorrie Carrington (lc)
- Member of [ASCII Art Ring](https://artcode.org/ascii/list.php)
- [Personal Website](https://www.angelfire.com/art/lorriesascii)
- Andreas Freise (a:f)
- Member of [ASCII Art Ring](https://artcode.org/ascii/list.php)
- [Personal Website](http://www.ascii-art.de/ascii/my)
- llizard (ejm)
-
- Joris Bellenger (b'ger)
-
- Alessio Roberti Vittory (ARV)
- BluePard (BP)
- Veronica Karlsson (VK)
- H P Barmario - Morfina (mf)
- Sebastian Stöcker (SSt)
## Notable ASCII Art Galleries
- [Additional cowsay cows colored](https://github.com/paulkaefer/cowsay-files)
- [Dots Art](https://emojicombos.com)
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## Contributing
-
Feel free to open an Merge-Request to add additional ASCII art cows that you like.
Ensure you are keeping the signature inside the ASCII art image, and that the file comments properly give attribution.
If any ASCII art credits are improper or incomplete, please notify me so I can correct it.
If any ASCII artists wish to have their art removed for this collection, please notify me and I will remove it promptly.