---
name: "installwatch"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "checkinstall"
version: "1.6.2+git20170426.d24a630-5.1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/installwatch"
---

# installwatch(1)

Track installation of software

## NAME

installwatch — Track installation of software

## SYNOPSIS

**installwatch** \[*options*\]  \[command\]

## DESCRIPTION

**installwatch** is a program that is used in order  to track the changes made while installing local software (i.e.   "make install"). It monitors the requested command, and produces  a log which indicates all created and modified files. By default  it outputs to **[syslog(3)](/syslog/3.md)** using a priority  of "LOG\_USER \| LOG\_INFO". This may be overridden by the use of the  **-o** flag. The log format is as follows:

`<return-value> <syscall-name> <argument> #<comment>`

Each field is delimited by a "^I" character if logging to   **[syslog(3)](/syslog/3.md)**, or by a tab when logging to a file.

## ENVIRONMENT

- INSTALLWATCH\_BACKUP\_PATH

  Set this variable to the location that you want  installwatch to copy the original version of files which  get modified. The directory will be created if it does  not exist, assuming that the parent is writable.

## OPTIONS

These program follow the usual GNU command line syntax,  with long options starting with two dashes (\`-').  A summary of  options is included below.

- **-o** **--logfile**

  Directs that output from the logged command be written to  the filename specified. If the specified file already exists,   it will be truncated.

- **-r** **--root**

  Sets the directory under which meta-info and translated  files  will be stored.

- **-t** **--trans**

  Toggle translation capabilities.

- **-e** **--exclude**

  Sets a comma separated neutral directory list, that won't  be concerned by translation or backups.

- **-d** **--dbgfile**

  Specify a debug file.

- **-v** **--dbglvl**

  Sets the debug level to be used.

- **-h** **--help**

  Show help information.

## BUGS

installwatch does not work with programs which are statically linked with  libc. Due to LD\_PRELOAD limitations, it does not work with suid programs  (this would probably introduce security problems, anyway).

**[mknod(2)](/mknod/2.md)** is not monitored.

## AUTHOR

This manual page was written by Felipe Sateler \<fsateler@gmail.com\> for  the **Debian** system (but may be used by others). Original text   by Greg Norris \<adric@debian.org\>. Permission is  granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under  the terms of the GNU General Public License, Version 2.

On Debian systems, the complete text of the GNU General Public  License can be found in /usr/share/common-licenses/GPL.