Designing ASCII graphics with JavE
Make Your Mark
© Alexey Klementiev, 123RF
The free JavE ASCII editor lets you create diagrams, brighten email messages, write circuit diagrams, create cartoons, or just design ASCII art for pleasure.
As the name Java ASCII Versatile Editor, or JavE for short, suggests, this editor uses ASCII characters [1] instead of the lines, dots, and shapes you are familiar with in drawing tools like GIMP. With characters and letters of the alphabet, JavE creates graphic shapes and lines. This style of drawing is not only practical – for example, you can add a compact route sketch to an email message – over the years it has developed into a genuine art form known as "ASCII Art" [2].
JavE is the right tool if you are looking for an intuitive approach to designing professional and artistic ASCII-style graphics. To help you do so, the editor gives you a bunch of tools and features, including freehand drawing with the mouse, shapes, and brushes. In addition, you can export your efforts into various file and document formats, including GIF and HTML. The program also handles figlet fonts [3] and converts graphic formats to ASCII images. Besides this, it supports ROT13 encoding [4] and has a steganography feature for text [5]. To top it all off, the editor includes a collection of clipart templates and even lets you produce small cartoons.
Installation
The Java program is available on the project homepage as a ZIP archive [6]. JavE requires Java Runtime Environment version 1.6 or newer. At the command line, you can type java -version to find out which version you have.
[...]
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.