ConsoleSpy For Mac

ConsoleSpy is a minimalist OS X utility that can put the system.log messages on your desktop in a small window that takes a limited amount of space.

The ConsoleSpy app allows you to adjust the update frequency and will alert you when certain keywords are included in the system messages.

By default, ConsoleSpy will display in its main window the system.log messages, and you get to see them on your screen at all times, on top of all other apps, without having to go back and forth to the Console application.

Via the ConsoleSpy Settings panel you get to decide if you want to use the short or long panel, and modify the update frequency. For your convenience, ConsoleSpy allows you to lock the current message and also enables you to launch the Console app to see the broadcast in context.

ConsoleSpy also integrates customization options for filtering the messages depending on user specified criteria. The alerts that match the list will be retained, and you have access to the list at any time.

The included alerts can be sent to the clipboard and transferred to third party apps, but keep in mind that you cannot select multiple messages at the same time. To avoid clutter, you can regularly clean the received alerts list (all messages will be deleted at the same time).

The ConsoleSpy app comes with a predefined collection of keywords, but you get to edit the list and add your own strings: you have to separate them by using commas, and you may even set up exclusion rules.

Bottom line, ConsoleSpy offers users the possibility to hunt alerts related to certain processes with minimal effort, without having to sacrifice too much desktop space.

What's more, the ConsoleSpy app relies on user-defined filters for sorting the messages and storing them for further analysis. If you choose to hide the app window, ConsoleSpy will pop up on its own whenever a new alert is registered.