oneko For Linux

Not at all things about Linux have to be super pragmatic and serious, and command-line this and command-line that. Sometimes, you can just have a bit of fun with small, very-much-not-serious apps.

Oneko is one such application. It's a fun tiny application that transforms your cursor into a "mouse." With the help of this mouse cursor, you can make the cute little cat chase it around your screen.

For starters, the word "neko" means "cat" in Japanese. It is believed that the original app was written by a Japanase developer as a Mac desktop accessory for the NEC PC-9801.

As expected, there are many version of this app out there, but this specific app (oneko) is a fork of Werner Randelshofer’s Java port.

We already mentioned that this is a fun little screenmate app. Hence, it should come as no suprise that if, for instance, you're not a fan of cats, you're provided with other options.

For instance, you can choose to have a dog instead of a cat on your screen (in which case, your cursor will change from a mouse to a bone). Other replacements for the cat include a sakura, or a Tomoyo Daidouji pet.

The app also allows you to change both the foreground and the background colors, change the window name of neko, and make the screenmate chase to a specified window or a selected window.

When it comes to installing oneko, you have two options: you either download the Java binary and run it as a standalone app, or you install it using the following command: "sudo apt-get install oneko".

To use oneko, simply type "oneko" in the Terminal.

Even though oneko doesn't offer much in real-life pet lovability, it can act as a sort of distraction if you're in need of one.