---
name: "uncat"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "socklog"
version: "2.1.0+repack-6"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/uncat"
---

# uncat(1)

continuously reads stdin, splits up the data either by timeout or number of bytes read to process it

## NAME

uncat - continuously reads stdin, splits up the data either by timeout or number of bytes read to process it

## SYNOPSIS

**uncat** \[-vo\] \[-t *seconds*\] \[-s *size*\] *prog*

## DESCRIPTION

**uncat** continuously reads stdin and repeatedly processes the data either after *seconds* timeout or maximal number of bytes *size* read. To process the data, **uncat** starts *prog* and feeds the data into *prog*'s standard input. *prog*'s standard output is redirected to standard error. **uncat** never writes to standard output.

*prog* consist of one or more arguments.

If *prog* exits non-zero, **uncat** prints an error message, discards the data and continues to read stdin.

Note that **uncat** is not crash proof.

**uncat** is used to run the *socklog-notify* service.

## OPTIONS

- **-v**

  verbose. Print verbose messages to stderr.

- **-o**

  once. Exit on end of input. Normally **uncat** continues waiting for data on standard input, even on end of file.

- **-t *seconds***

  timeout. Set the timeout to *seconds* seconds. Default is 300.

- **-s *size***

  Set the maximal number of bytes to *size*. Default is 1024.

## SIGNALS

If **uncat** receives a TERM signal, it starts to process the data in memory and exits as soon as possible.

**uncat** also does this on end of input if the **-o** option was given.

## EXIT CODES

**uncat** returns 0 after receiving a TERM signal. **uncat** returns 111 on error.

## SEE ALSO

[socklog(8)](/socklog/8.md), [socklog-conf(8)](/socklog-conf/8.md), [sv(8)](/sv/8.md), [runsv(8)](/runsv/8.md), [svlogd(8)](/svlogd/8.md), [tryto(1)](/tryto/1.md)

 http://smarden.org/socklog/\
  http://smarden.org/runit/

## AUTHOR

Gerrit Pape \<pape@smarden.org\>