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[Logging & Monitoring](/categories/logging) 4. / 5. birenjung/log-watcher ActiveLibrary[Logging & Monitoring](/categories/logging) birenjung/log-watcher ===================== Terminal-first, channel-aware log watcher for Laravel developers v0.1.5(3mo ago)019↓100%MITPHPPHP ^8.2 Since Jan 3Pushed 3mo agoCompare [ Source](https://github.com/birenjung/log-watcher)[ Packagist](https://packagist.org/packages/birenjung/log-watcher)[ RSS](/packages/birenjung-log-watcher/feed)WikiDiscussions main Synced 1mo ago READMEChangelogDependencies (2)Versions (6)Used By (0) birenjung/log-watcher ===================== [](#birenjunglog-watcher) > **Debug without breaking flow.** A lightweight, terminal-first log watcher for Laravel developers who think in channels, not dashboards. --- Why this exists --------------- [](#why-this-exists) During active development, debugging often becomes repetitive: 1. Trigger a request 2. Switch to the browser 3. Hit a `dd()` or dump output 4. Go back to the editor 5. Repeat While `dd()` is extremely useful, it **forces context switching** — especially during intense debugging where focus matters. This package exists to make debugging **less disruptive**. Instead of stopping execution and switching screens, you can: - Log what matters - Observe behavior in real time - Stay inside the terminal - Avoid unrelated framework or system noise **The goal is not to replace debugging tools, but to make everyday debugging calmer, simpler, and more focused.** --- dd() vs log-watcher ------------------- [](#dd-vs-log-watcher) `dd()``log-watcher`Stops executionKeeps application runningRequires browser accessWorks entirely in terminalForces screen switchingNo context switchingOne-time snapshotReal-time observationCan block debugging flowDesigned to preserve flowThey serve different purposes — and work best together. --- Philosophy ---------- [](#philosophy) This package follows a few simple principles: - **Terminal-first** No UI, no dashboard, no browser tab. - **Channel-centric** Laravel logs are channels, not just files. Channels are treated as first-class citizens. - **Minimal by design** Do one thing well. No feature creep. - **Predictable behavior** No hidden side effects. No log mutation. No database usage. Simplicity is the style. Honesty is the policy. --- What this package is -------------------- [](#what-this-package-is) - A real-time log watcher for Laravel - A developer-only tool - A terminal-native alternative to `tail -f` - A channel-aware wrapper around Laravel's logging system --- What this package is NOT ------------------------ [](#what-this-package-is-not) - ❌ Not a replacement for Laravel Pail - ❌ Not a UI or TUI log viewer - ❌ Not a debugging dashboard (use Telescope for that) - ❌ Not production tooling - ❌ Not opinionated about your workflow This package intentionally stays small. --- Requirements ------------ [](#requirements) - PHP **8.2+** - Laravel **12.x** --- Installation ------------ [](#installation) ``` composer require birenjung/log-watcher --dev ``` This is a **dev-only package**, intended for local and development environments. --- Quick Start (30 seconds) ------------------------ [](#quick-start-30-seconds) ``` php artisan log:watch ``` That's it. - Watches your default Laravel log channel - Runs in clean mode by default - Prints logs as they happen If nothing appears, it simply means no new logs were written yet. --- Usage ----- [](#usage) ### Watch the default log channel [](#watch-the-default-log-channel) ``` php artisan log:watch ``` This watches Laravel's default logging channel (`logging.default` in `config/logging.php`). If the default channel is `stack`, it is automatically resolved to the first file-based channel. --- ### Watch a specific channel [](#watch-a-specific-channel) ``` php artisan log:watch daily ``` **Supported channel types:** - `single` - `daily` - `stack` (auto-resolved) - Any custom **file-based** channel Non-file channels (Slack, Syslog, etc.) are intentionally unsupported. --- ### Clean Mode (default) [](#clean-mode-default) By default, `log-watcher` runs in **clean mode**. ``` php artisan log:watch ``` **Clean mode:** - Hides framework and vendor stack traces - Hides internal exception noise - Shows only meaningful application logs - Keeps the terminal readable during debugging You will see: ``` Clean mode enabled. Use --full to show full stack traces. ``` This is intentional. --- ### Full Mode [](#full-mode) To see everything — including raw stack traces and framework internals: ``` php artisan log:watch --full ``` Use this when you need deep visibility. --- Colored Output -------------- [](#colored-output) Log levels are detected and colored automatically: LevelColordebug``` | Cyan | ``` | INFO | Blue | | WARNING | Yellow | | ERROR / CRITICAL | Red | This makes scanning logs easier without filters or UI. --- Important note -------------- [](#important-note) `log-watcher` shows **real application logs**. If your app throws an exception (for example, a database connection error), it will appear here. Nothing is hidden, transformed, or suppressed. If nothing appears, it simply means **no new logs were written yet**. --- Common Questions ---------------- [](#common-questions) ### Why not just use `dd()`? [](#why-not-just-use-dd) `dd()` is perfect for inspecting values at a single point in time. `log-watcher` is better for: - Watching behavior across multiple requests - Debugging workflows without stopping execution - Observing real-time application state - Staying inside the terminal during heavy debugging They complement each other. --- ### Why not just use Laravel Pail? [](#why-not-just-use-laravel-pail) Laravel Pail is a great tool, but it is **opinionated and UI-driven**. `log-watcher` is: - Terminal-native - Channel-focused - Minimal by design - Easy to integrate into custom workflows (tmux, SSH, CI, pipes) They complement each other rather than compete. --- ### Why not just use `tail -f`? [](#why-not-just-use-tail--f) Because `tail -f`: - Does not understand Laravel channels - Does not handle `stack` - Is not portable across environments - Does not provide semantic log-level coloring `log-watcher` adds Laravel awareness without adding complexity. --- Laravel Version Support ----------------------- [](#laravel-version-support) This package is designed specifically for Laravel's modern bootstrap system. - Laravel **12.x** - PHP **8.2+** --- Development Status ------------------ [](#development-status) - **v0.1.0** — Initial stable release - **v0.1.3** — Clean mode and full mode support - API intentionally small - Backwards compatibility prioritized Future versions may add optional features, but the core philosophy will remain unchanged. --- License ------- [](#license) MIT --- Final note ---------- [](#final-note) This package is not trying to be everything. If you want a dashboard, use Telescope. If you want UI-driven tooling, use Pail. If you want a simple, honest, terminal-native way to observe logs without breaking flow — this exists for you. ### Health Score 36 — LowBetter than 81% of packages Maintenance84 Actively maintained with recent releases Popularity7 Limited adoption so far Community6 Small or concentrated contributor base Maturity40 Maturing project, gaining track record Bus Factor1 Top contributor holds 100% of commits — single point of failure How is this calculated?**Maintenance (25%)** — Last commit recency, latest release date, and issue-to-star ratio. Uses a 2-year decay window. **Popularity (30%)** — Total and monthly downloads, GitHub stars, and forks. Logarithmic scaling prevents top-heavy scores. **Community (15%)** — Contributors, dependents, forks, watchers, and maintainers. Measures real ecosystem engagement. **Maturity (30%)** — Project age, version count, PHP version support, and release stability. ### Release Activity Cadence Every ~3 days Total 5 Last Release 115d ago ### Community Maintainers ![](https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/6c340b60a898fd8caf4c22b19bd15f4feab827eafea7b22e9c71181763248c55?d=identicon)[birenjung](/maintainers/birenjung) --- Top Contributors [![birenjung](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/26524622?v=4)](https://github.com/birenjung "birenjung (12 commits)") --- Tags artisandebugdeveloper-toolslaravellogginglogsopen-sourceterminalterminallaravelloggingartisanlogsdeveloper-tools ### Embed Badge ![Health badge](/badges/birenjung-log-watcher/health.svg) ``` [![Health](https://phpackages.com/badges/birenjung-log-watcher/health.svg)](https://phpackages.com/packages/birenjung-log-watcher) ``` ### Alternatives [rollbar/rollbar-laravel Rollbar error monitoring integration for Laravel projects 14110.4M7](/packages/rollbar-rollbar-laravel)[shaffe/laravel-mail-log-channel A package to support logging via email in Laravel 1286.2k](/packages/shaffe-laravel-mail-log-channel)[kssadi/log-tracker A powerful, intuitive, and efficient log viewer for Laravel applications. 264.8k](/packages/kssadi-log-tracker) PHPackages © 2026 [Directory](/)[Categories](/categories)[Trending](/trending)[Changelog](/changelog)[Analyze](/analyze)