Introduction
Linux systems are made up of many components working together. And it may not always be clear to the user (especially a new user) what parts comprise their system.
If you have a question about what part was used for some portion of your system there are numerous fetches - tools for fetching system information - available for finding and printing system component information.
One popular option is neofetch.
According to tldr pages neofetch is a “tool to display information about your operating system, software and hardware.”
Installing neofetch
neofetch can be installed on quite a few systems.
On Ubuntu, it can be installed through the package manager.
Command:
sudo apt install neofetch
Using neofetch
Using neofetch is simple. You just run the neofetch command to see information about your system.
Command:
neofetch
Example output:
.-/+oossssoo+/-. user@computer
`:+ssssssssssssssssss+:` ------------
-+ssssssssssssssssssyyssss+- OS: Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS x86_64
.ossssssssssssssssssdMMMNysssso. Host: Timex Sinclair 1000
/ssssssssssshdmmNNmmyNMMMMhssssss/ Kernel: 6.2.0-32-generic
+ssssssssshmydMMMMMMMNddddyssssssss+ Uptime: 4 days, 12 hours, 47 mins
/sssssssshNMMMyhhyyyyhmNMMMNhssssssss/ Packages: 921 (dpkg), 6 (flatpak), 15 (snap)
.ssssssssdMMMNhsssssssssshNMMMdssssssss. Shell: bash 5.1.16
+sssshhhyNMMNyssssssssssssyNMMMysssssss+ Resolution: 3200x1800
ossyNMMMNyMMhsssssssssssssshmmmhssssssso DE: GNOME 42.9
ossyNMMMNyMMhsssssssssssssshmmmhssssssso WM: Mutter
+sssshhhyNMMNyssssssssssssyNMMMysssssss+ WM Theme: Adwaita
.ssssssssdMMMNhsssssssssshNMMMdssssssss. Theme: Yaru-viridian-dark [GTK2/3]
/sssssssshNMMMyhhyyyyhdNMMMNhssssssss/ Icons: Yaru-viridian [GTK2/3]
+sssssssssdmydMMMMMMMMddddyssssssss+ Terminal: gnome-terminal
/ssssssssssshdmNNNNmyNMMMMhssssss/ CPU: 12th Gen Intel @ 5.500GHz
.ossssssssssssssssssdMMMNysssso. GPU: Intel HD Graphics
-+sssssssssssssssssyyyssss+- Memory: 5088MiB / 15458MiB
`:+ssssssssssssssssss+:`
.-/+oossssoo+/-.
Conclusion
When you have a question about your system, neofetch provides a lot of information in a compact and attractive format.
It is an excellent place to start for many system questions.