пример того, как используя псевдографику можно вывести на экран консоли информацию о стадии выполнения той или иной задачи.

<?php
function progressBar($current=0, $total = 100, $size = 50)
{
// first call must have $current=0,
// otherwise you'll delete some last
// part of your's app output
$sText = ' '.$current.' / '.$total;
// percent indicator must be four characters, if shorter, add some spaces
$perc = ($current/$total)*100;
for($i=strlen($perc); $i<=4; $i++)
{
$perc = ' '.$perc;
}
$total_size = $size + $i + 3 + strlen($sText);
// if it's not first go, remove the previous bar
if($current > 0)
{
for($place = $total_size; $place > 0; $place--)
{
// echo a backspace (hex:08) to remove the previous character
echo "\x08";
}
}
// output the progess bar as it should be
for($place = 0; $place <= $size; $place++)
{
// output green spaces if we're finished through this point
// or grey spaces if not
if($place <= ($current / $total * $size))
{
echo '\033[42m \033[0m';
}
else
{
echo '\033[47m \033[0m';
}
}
echo $sText;
}
for($x=1;$x<=100;$x++)
{
progressBar($x);
usleep(100000);
}
echo "\n";