We’ve become used to the benefits of online maps, and there are plenty of options to choose from. Open source projects tend to stick with Openstreetmap (OSM), a high-quality community-supported map service for both online and offline use. However, this time we’ll be using OSM in an unusual way with the help of Mapscii, a fully fledged map inside your Linux terminal! As long as the CLI mode imposes constraints, such as low resolution for emulating graphics, don’t expect Mapscii to look much better than a map rendered on the tiny screen of a mobile phone from 2001. However, since screen real estate on a desktop is large, everything looks rather usable and the map itself can be scrolled and zoomed.
Navigate the map using the arrow keys; zoom in and out with A and Z, respectively; and press C to toggle the rendering mode. Mapscii draws the map using Braillestyle dotted characters, but you may prefer the solidfilled blocks. The ‘Braille’ mode provides slightly better resolution and thus more details, whereas the ‘solid’ mode has improved contrast.