---
title: Using Bash to display a Christmas tree
description: This page shows you how to write bash code for a Christmas tree and to display it in a shell of your Instance
tags: bash christmas-tree
products:
- instances
dates:
validation: 2025-03-27
posted: 2019-11-26
validation_frequency: 12
difficulty: beginner
usecase:
- best-practices
ecosystem:
- scaleway-only
---
import image from './assets/scaleway-animated-tree.gif'
**Bash**, short for Bourne Again Shell, represents an improved version of Sh (Bourne Shell) and comes built-in with Linux and macOS operating systems. Serving as a shell, it furnishes a command line interface (CLI) for engaging with the computer's operating system. This interface deciphers commands in plain text format, conveying the instructions to the operating system to execute corresponding actions.
A bash script essentially constitutes a plain text file containing a sequence of commands. These commands may include ones typically manually inputted in the shell (like `ls` or `cd`), as well as more complex commands that are usually avoided due to their intricacy. Essentially, any command accessible within the shell environment can be employed within a bash script, and vice versa.
Writing bash scripts does not require any special skills. You just write down the commands you want the computer to execute in a text file instead of individually typing them. This is handy for automating tasks, like managing files or folders. Bash scripts usually end with `*.sh`.
We recommend you follow this tutorial using a [Learning Instance](/instances/reference-content/choosing-instance-type/).
## Writing the script
1. Connect to your Instance using [SSH](/instances/how-to/connect-to-instance/):
```
ssh root@
```
2. Update the `apt` package cache and the software already installed on the Instance:
```
apt update && apt upgrade -y
```
3. Create a new bash script and open it in a text editor, for example `nano`:
```
nano xmas.sh
```
4. Copy the following bash code into the script:
```bash
# The following line tells the shell what program to interpret the script with
#!/bin/bash
# tput is a command to manipulate the terminal, it can be used to change the color of text, apply effects, and generally brighten things up.
trap "tput reset; tput cnorm; exit" 2
clear
tput civis
lin=2
col=$(($(tput cols) / 2))
c=$((col-1))
est=$((c-2))
color=0
# Set the text color to green to write the tree
tput setaf 2; tput bold
# Write the tree
for ((i=1; i<40; i+=2))
{
tput cup $lin $col
for ((j=1; j<=i; j++))
{
echo -n \*
}
let lin++
let col--
}
## Set the color to brown for the trunk
tput sgr0; tput setaf 130
# Write the Trunk in three lines
for ((i=1; i<=3; i++))
{
tput cup $((lin++)) $c
echo 'mWm'
}
# Write a greeting
tput setaf 93; tput bold
tput cup $lin $((c - 15)); echo SCALEWAY wishes you Merry christmas
tput cup $((lin + 1)) $((c - 11)); echo And a Happy New Year 2026
let c++
k=1
# Configure lights and decorations
while true; do
for ((i=1; i<=35; i++)) {
# Turn off the lights
[ $k -gt 1 ] && {
tput setaf 2; tput bold
tput cup ${line[$[k-1]$i]} ${column[$[k-1]$i]}; echo \*
unset line[$[k-1]$i]; unset column[$[k-1]$i] # Array cleanup
}
li=$((RANDOM % 9 + 10))
start=$((c-li+2))
co=$((RANDOM % (li-2) * 2 + 1 + start))
tput setaf $color; tput bold # Switch colors
tput cup $li $co
echo o
line[$k$i]=$li
column[$k$i]=$co
color=$(((color+1)%8))
}
k=$((k % 2 + 1))
done
```
5. Paste the copied file and press `CTRL` and `s` to save.
6. Exit nano by pressing `CTRL` and `x`.
7. Make the script executable using the `chmod` command (necessary because, by default, plain text files are not executable):
```
chmod +x xmas.sh
```
## Running the script
1. Run the script from your terminal by typing the following code:
```
./xmas.sh
```
The script writes an animated tree on the terminal window:
2. Exit the script by pressing `CTRL` + `c`.