ConsoleSpy

ConsoleSpy is a super handy OS X tool that helps you keep an eye on system.log messages right from your desktop. It shows these messages in a little window that doesn’t take up much space. This way, you can always see what’s going on without having to switch back to the Console application.

Customize Your Alerts

This app lets you tweak how often it updates and even sends alerts if certain keywords pop up in the system messages. You can easily set this up in the ConsoleSpy Settings panel, where you can choose between a short or long display panel. Want to lock a message? No problem! Plus, there’s an option to jump back into the Console app for more context whenever you need it.

Filter Messages Easily

One of the coolest features of ConsoleSpy is its filtering options. You can sort messages based on criteria you set yourself! It keeps track of alerts that match your list, so you can check them out anytime. If you're looking for something specific, just copy those alerts to your clipboard and use them in other apps. Just remember, though, you can't select multiple messages at once.

Cleans Up Clutter

If things start getting messy, no worries! You can clean out all the received alerts at once to avoid clutter on your desktop. The app comes with a bunch of predefined keywords but feel free to change them up or add your own by separating them with commas—exclusion rules are also an option!

The Bottom Line

In short, ConsoleSpy makes it super easy to track alerts related to specific processes without taking up too much space on your screen. It works great with user-defined filters for sorting and storing messages for later analysis. If you're not using it actively, don’t worry; ConsoleSpy will pop back up whenever a new alert comes in!

If you're interested in downloading this neat little app, check it out here.