Alternatives to jp2a
Tiny command-line tool that converts JPEG images to ASCII art. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
jp2a
Tiny command-line tool that converts JPEG images to ASCII art.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as jp2a.
ascii-image-converter
Cross-platform CLI tool that converts images and GIFs into colored terminal ASCII.
ascii-image-converter accepts more than JPEG, including animated GIFs, adds colored output and a Braille mode, and has a Windows build that jp2a lacks.
Chafa
Terminal graphics renderer that displays images and animations using Unicode and ANSI.
Chafa renders images and animations with Unicode and ANSI graphics rather than plain ASCII, and like jp2a it has no native Windows build listed.
viu
Rust-based terminal image viewer with native iTerm and Kitty support.
viu is a Rust image viewer that uses iTerm and Kitty native protocols for sharper output than ASCII and runs on Windows as well.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
TOIlet
FIGlet-like command-line text renderer with filters and color effects.
boxes
Command-line filter that wraps text in ASCII boxes and decorative frames.
lolcat
Adds rainbow color gradients to terminal output, often piped with cowsay.
cowsay (JavaScript port)
JavaScript/Node.js port of the classic talking-cow ASCII art generator.
