How to Play Solitaire in Your Linux Terminal With solitaire-tui

Solitaire is the classic card game everyone knows, but you don’t need a graphical desktop or even a web browser to play it. Thanks to a neat little tool called solitaire-tui, you can play Solitaire directly in your Linux terminal. Whether you’re killing time, taking a break, or just want some retro terminal fun, here’s how to get started.

What is solitaire-tui?

solitaire-tui stands for “Solitaire Terminal User Interface.” It’s a simple, open-source implementation of Klondike Solitaire, designed to run entirely in your terminal window. It’s lightweight, doesn’t eat up resources, and works on almost any Linux distribution.

Why play Solitaire in the terminal?

• Distraction-free: No popups, no ads.
• Low resource usage: Runs on old or low-powered machines.
• Nostalgic: Feels like old-school computing fun.
• Works anywhere: SSH into a remote machine and play a quick game.

How to Install solitaire-tui

1. Using a Package Manager

On many distributions, you can install solitaire-tui straight from your package manager. For example, on Ubuntu or Debian-based systems:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install solitaire-tui

On Arch Linux or Manjaro:

sudo pacman -S solitaire-tui

If your distribution doesn’t have it in the official repos, you can build it from source.

2. Building From Source

If it’s not available via your package manager, you can build it yourself. You’ll need cargo (the Rust package manager):

# Install Rust and Cargo if you don’t have them
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/alexandermendes/solitaire-tui.git
cd solitaire-tui

# Build and install
cargo install --path .

This will install solitaire-tui into your Cargo bin directory, usually ~/.cargo/bin.

How to Play

Just open your terminal and type:

solitaire-tui

The interface is simple. You’ll use your keyboard to move cards:

• Arrow keys: Move between piles.
• Enter/Space: Select and place cards.
• U: Undo a move.
• Q: Quit the game.

All the instructions are usually shown in-game, so you’re never lost.

Tips for Playing

• Use undo liberally! Sometimes, a bad move is just a keystroke away.
• If the interface looks weird, try resizing your terminal or using a different font.
• Remember, this is classic Klondike rules: build up each suit in the foundation, in order, from Ace to King.

Final Thoughts

solitaire-tui is proof that you don’t need a fancy GUI to have fun on Linux. Next time you’re stuck in a terminal or want a break without switching context, fire it up and enjoy a few hands of Solitaire.

Have you tried other terminal games? Share your favorites in the comments!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!