From log file into terminal in realtime

Question

I'm on Ubuntu.

Is it possible to open putty and watch as a log file updates right in terminal? Like if stdout would have been directed in terminal?

For example I have one application's stdout and stderr directed into a file and want to watch how my app is starting from another terminal.

score 7 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 25 '12 at 15:01

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If you want to follow a log file, you can use the famous:

$ tail -f /path/to/log/file

answered Feb 25 '12 at 15:01

Khaled

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Damn forgot about tail :D ty again. Used it inside gltail. – Somebody Feb 25 '12 at 15:27
@Beck: If you want to view the log while writing in the same terminal, you can use `tee`. – Khaled Feb 25 '12 at 15:34

score 6 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:37

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In addition to tail -f, you can also use less with the +F parameter, which will allow you to keep track of new new input, but at the same time have access to all interactive functions of less, such as searching.

In some situations it is better to use tail -F (or less --follow-name) instead of tail -f. This assures that you continue following new input even if the file name changes. It is especially useful with some log-rotating software.

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:37

Community

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answered Feb 26 '12 at 12:16

jankes

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interesting, will check that out. have been thinking about such a feature... – Tom Feb 26 '12 at 23:14

From log file into terminal in realtime

2 Answers2