viddy

Viddy is a replacement for the traditional Unix watch command that executes commands periodically and displays their output. It provides all the basic functionality of the original watch command including periodic execution, colored output, and diff highlighting, but extends it with several advanced features.

The tool's standout feature is "time machine mode" which allows users to rewind through command output history like a video, navigating to past executions and returning to the present. Users can save and load execution history, view output in a built-in pager with vim-like keybindings, and search through text. The interface supports suspending and restarting execution, shell alias support, and customizable keymappings.

Viddy targets system administrators, developers, and anyone who regularly monitors command output or system states. It's particularly useful for debugging, monitoring log files, watching system processes, or any scenario where you need to track changes in command output over time. The tool supports extensive configuration through TOML files, allowing customization of keybindings, colors, and default behavior.

Installation

# via Homebrew
brew install viddy

# via Cargo
cargo install viddy