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ascii.rest offers 191 animated ASCII art pieces for web pages

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ascii.rest is a library of animated ASCII art for web pages, published by @bas3line (the GitHub repository is bas3line/ascii). It contains 191 pieces sorted into 14 categories. Each piece is a small, typed TypeScript module with no dependencies, and the library works with React, Next.js, Astro or plain HTML.

The categories, with their counts, are: Scenes (13, full-colour animated landscapes and skies), UI components (12), Data (10), Type (9), Logos (27, programming language logos in colour or single ink, from C to Zig), Distros (22, Linux distribution logos), Shapes (12, 3D forms), Space (11), Physics (14), Nature (16), Creatures (10), Objects (14), Generative (13) and Effects (8). Together they add up to the 191 pieces.

Usage depends on the stack. In plain HTML, you load the script https://ascii.rest/ascii.js and place an ascii-art custom tag with a piece attribute naming the piece; no install or build step is needed. For React, the page gives the install command npm install github:bas3line/ascii, so the package comes straight from GitHub. In Astro, the first frame renders on the server. In TypeScript, a mount() function attaches a piece to a pre element, or to a canvas for coloured pieces, and returns a function that stops the animation.

A piece plays while it is on screen and shows a static first frame for users who prefer reduced motion. The project is free to use and modify under the MIT license.

Key facts

  • The library holds 191 animated ASCII art pieces in 14 categories, from Scenes (13) to Logos (27) and Distros (22).
  • Each piece is a small, typed TypeScript module with no dependencies.
  • It works with React, Next.js, Astro or plain HTML; the plain-HTML route needs no install or build step.
  • A piece plays while on screen and shows a static first frame for users who prefer reduced motion.
  • The project is released under the MIT license.

Why it matters

This is a small front-end novelty rather than an industry shift. What stands out is the packaging: 191 ready-made animated pieces, each a dependency-free typed module, that can be added to a page with one script tag or a short import. It also respects reduced-motion preferences by showing a static first frame.

Who it affects

People building web pages who want decorative terminal-style animation: those working in plain HTML, React, Next.js, Astro or TypeScript. The Logos and Distros categories (programming language logos from C to Zig, and Linux distribution logos) suit developer-oriented sites.

How to use it

Plain HTML: load the script https://ascii.rest/ascii.js and use the ascii-art custom tag with a piece attribute; no install or build step is needed. React: install with npm install github:bas3line/ascii. Astro: the first frame renders on the server. TypeScript: mount() works on a pre element, or on a canvas for coloured pieces, and returns a function that stops the animation. The project is free to use and modify under the MIT license.

How solid is it

The facts here come from the project's own page, so the claims about its size, structure and compatibility are the author's own. The category counts add up to the stated 191 pieces. No release date, version number or changelog is given, and nothing is said about the author beyond the handle @bas3line.

Risks and caveats

No bundle size, performance figures or browser-support details are given, so the cost of running many animations on one page is unknown. The React install comes directly from GitHub rather than being described as an npm registry package. No pricing beyond the MIT license is mentioned.