tailspin
Log files can be highlighted in a terminal using tailspin, a command-line utility.
About tailspin
Tailspin is a command-line utility for reading log files in a terminal. Its main job is adding color to log output so that common elements are easier to scan. You can open a log file directly, pass it output from commands such as kubectl logs, or have it run a command for you with the --exec option.
Pricing is not clearly stated.
Key features
- Default highlighting for numbers, dates, IP addresses, UUIDs and URLs
- No setup or config required for basic use
- All highlight groups can be customized in a theme file
- Optional extras for IPv6 addresses and JVM stack traces
Good for
- Released under the MIT license
Watch out for
- Building from source requires a recent version of less
tailspin at a glance
- Website
- github.com/bensadeh/tailspin
- Category
- Development › Developer Tools
- Type
- App
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Windows, Linux
- Details verified
- Oct 21, 2026 · Official source
- Open source
- Yes · Source code
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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tailspin FAQ
How do I install tailspin?
Install it with a package manager such as Homebrew or Scoop, or build it from source by running cargo install --path . in the project directory.
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