alt Hacker News> using various modern command line tools that insist on printing emojis in their output
Ugh. Unpopular opinion this but I personally find this practice repugnant. Same for when used in git commit messages, CI/CD task names and other such places. It just cheapens the quality of the product in my opinion
Graphical characters and symbols like ticks I’m fine with. I have no objection to people wanting to make the terminal pretty. But emojis in software feels like juvenile - like signing a formal letter with your gaming handle.
Replies
bigstrat2003 • 11/04/2025
IMO emojis have no business in any form of text. It just doesn't belong.
Emojis are useful as visual indicators, there's anything from flags to check marks in them.
They can be super helpful to decorate CLI output.
If it feels juvenile but is helpful (as in many cases is) good.
Sure, some CLIs may over do with rockets and such, but any tools can misused.