And a Gentle Introduction to the Python CLI Ecosystem
Introduction
Today is Christmas — and if you’re reading this, I hope you’re doing well.
After a long year, our minds often try to create a false sense of urgency. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is pause, breathe, and say:
“Not now.”
With that in mind, this article brings a simple, fun, and educational tutorial, perfect for the holiday season.
The goal is straightforward:
run a Christmas tree animation directly in your Linux terminal.
Yes — Linux developers would rather write 100+ lines of code than decorate a real tree.
And we deeply respect that.
What Are We Building?
We’ll run a Python-based CLI called christmastree, using a tool called pipx.
Along the way, you’ll learn:
- What
pipx is and why it matters
- How to run Python CLI tools safely and in isolation
- How to run
christmastree on:
- most Linux distributions
- Big Linux / Manjaro (alternative setup)
What Is pipx?
pipx is a tool designed to install and run Python applications in isolated environments, without affecting:
- the system Python
- other projects
- existing virtual environments
Each application gets its own virtual environment, but remains accessible globally through your PATH.
Popular examples include:
black — code formatterpoetry — dependency managerhttpie — terminal HTTP clientchristmastree — your animated Christmas tree
Installation (Official Method — Works on Most Distros)
Step 1: Install pipx
pip install pipx
pipx ensurepath
You may need to open a new terminal afterward.
Step 2: Clone the official repository
git clone https://github.com/MEHighKing/christmastree.git
cd christmastree
pipx install .
Step 3: Run it
christmastree
Alternative Setup — Big Linux (Manjaro)
Big Linux is a Brazilian distribution based on Manjaro, so the only difference is how pipx is installed.
Install pipx via pacman
sudo pacman -S python-pipx
Then follow the same steps:
git clone https://github.com/MEHighKing/christmastree.git
cd christmastree
pipx install .
Common Issue: Terminal Size
If you see this error:
Please enlarge your terminal to at least 100x40 (current: 85x34).
[exit=1]
Just resize your terminal window.
Check current size with:
tput cols; tput lines
Once it reaches 100x40 or more, run:
christmastree
Important Note ⚠️
Some tutorials suggest running:
curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/MEHighKing/christmastree/master/christmastree.sh | bash
This does not work.
There is no shell script in the repository. The correct approach is using pipx.
Conclusion
I hope everything ran smoothly
If you enjoyed it, consider visiting the official repository and leaving a ⭐ — those developers are powered by coffee and code ☕
Official repository:
https://github.com/MEHighKing/christmastree
Merry Christmas — and long live Linux!