An interactive Linux Terminal simulator built entirely inside a PDF file using Adobe Acrobat JavaScript (AcroForms).

No installation, no internet, and no virtual machines required. Just open the PDF and start typing Linux commands!

🎥 Live Demo

Check out the full capabilities of Linux.pdf in action:

💻 Compatibility & Supported Readers

Since this project relies heavily on advanced Acrobat JavaScript (AcroForms), performance and functionality vary depending on the PDF reader you use:

(+) Fully Recommended (Best Experience)

• Adobe Acrobat Reader (Desktop) - Smooth performance and 100% features support.
• PDF-XChange Editor - Excellent script execution.
• Firefox - It usually works correctly.

(-) Supported with Limitations (Browsers)

• Modern Web Browsers (Chrome, Edge, Opera) - Will run the core simulation but you might experience slight rendering lag or minor feature restrictions eg. sending the command with Enter.

🛠️ How to Rebuild

In my experience, I used this method; there are other shorter methods, but this one is free :)

Step 1: LibreOffice Writer

• From Form add:
  • Text Box, with name CommandLine (The inputs bar)
  • Push Button, with name SubmitButton (Enter button)
• Design your file as you wish (im not good at it).

Step 2: Modify Terminal Hieght

In base.js you need to edit the TERMINAL_HEIGHT variable to the size of terminal you will make.

var TERMINAL_HEIGHT = 28; // 28 lines only in my case

Step 3: PDF-XChange Editor

• Go to Form
• Create Text, with properties:
  • Field Name: TerminalScreen
  • Read Only: Yes
  • Check Spelling: No
  • Multi Line: Yes
• Click Document JavaScript > Add > Paste the code of base.js
• Click Select Fields
• Edit properties:
  • For TerminalScreen
    • Change Validation to Custom Action.
    • In Validation Action paste the code of process_command.js
  • For SubmitButton
    • Actions > Mouse Down > Add > Run a JavaScript
    • Actions > Mouse Down > Reset a Form > Deselect "TerminalScreen"
    • And paste the code of process_command.js

📋 Supported Commands

Currently, Linux.pdf supports a variety of core Unix commands:

• ls - List directory contents (supports relative paths like ls folder/sub).
• cd - Change directories (supports .. and deep path navigation).
• pwd - Print current working directory.
• touch / mkdir - Create files and directories dynamically in memory.
• cat / head / tail - View and read simulated file contents.
• echo - Display text or redirect output to files using >.
• cp / mv - Copy, move, or rename items within the simulated filesystem.
• rm / rmdir - Delete files or empty directories securely.
• clear, help, whoami, uname, man.

📝 License

This project is open-source and available under the MIT License.