---
name: "xtail"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "xtail"
version: "2.1-11"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/xtail"
---

# xtail(1)

Watch the growth of files.

## NAME

xtail - Watch the growth of files.

## SYNTAX

**xtail** entry ...

## DESCRIPTION

*Xtail* monitors one or more files, and displays all data written to a file since command invocation.  It is very useful for monitoring multiple logfiles simultaneously.

If an *entry* given on the command line is a directory, all files in that directory will be monitored, including those created after the *xtail* invocation.  If an *entry* given on the command line doesn't exist, *xtail* will watch for it and monitor it once created.  When switching files in the display, a banner showing the pathname of the file is printed.

An interrupt character (usually CTRL/C or DEL) will display a list of the most recently modified files being watched.  Send a quit signal (usually CTRL/backslash) to stop *xtail*.

## SEE ALSO

[tail(1)](/tail/1.md)

## NOTES

*Xtail* may be easily confused.  For example, if you ask it to monitor a file multiple times, it probably will.  If you misspell a filename, *xtail* will treat it as a nonexistent entry and happily wait for its creation.

My favorite use is "xtail /usr/spool/uucp/.Log/\*".

## AUTHOR

Chip Rosenthal \<chip@unicom.com\>