---
name: "ircat"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "lirc"
version: "1:0.10.2-6"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ircat"
---

# ircat(1)

print strings when pressing buttons

## NAME

ircat - print strings when pressing buttons

## SYNOPSIS

**ircat** \[*options*\] \<*prog*\>

## DESCRIPTION

This program prints config strings to standard output. It can be used to provide remote control input to scripts and to debug your .lircrc file.

The argument to the program is the program name, as it appears in the prog entries in .lircrc.

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

  Display usage summary.

- **-v** **--version**

  Display version.

- **-c** **--config=**\<*file*\>

  Set config file.

## EXAMPLES

If .lircrc contains:

```
begin
        prog = myprog
        button = KEY_CHANNELUP
        config = next_file
end
```

then

```
$ ircat myprog
```

will print "next\_file" (followed by newline) every time the button bound to KEY\_CHANNELUP is pressed.

## ENVIRONMENT

- **LIRC\_SOCKET\_PATH**

  The **[lircd(8)](/lircd/8.md)** output socket used to retrieve data. Defaults to /var/run/lirc/lircd

## SEE ALSO

The documentation for **lirc** is maintained as html pages. They are located under html/ in the documentation directory.