install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install tailspin

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add tailspin

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · tailspin · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install tailspin

Debian stable package indexes · tailspin · source: deb.debian.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#tailspin

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ta/tailspin/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%

sudo pacman -S tailspin

Arch Linux sync databases · tailspin · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

Windows

Scoopverified · 92%

scoop install main/tailspin

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/tailspin.json · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Log file highlighter

Project links

Commands and aliases

tspin

history

Project history and usage

tailspin is a Rust command-line log highlighter distributed as the `tspin` executable. Its upstream README presents it as a no-setup tool for viewing or tailing arbitrary log files while highlighting common log tokens such as dates, numbers, IP addresses, UUIDs, URLs, paths, keywords, and process names.

Project history

The project fits the modern Rust CLI pattern: a small terminal tool with sensible defaults, TOML customization, Cargo availability, and examples built around Unix pipelines. Its README emphasizes that tailspin does not assume a specific log format, which makes it useful across application, infrastructure, and Kubernetes log streams.

Adoption history

Upstream installation instructions list Homebrew, Cargo, Arch Linux, Nix, NetBSD, FreeBSD, and Scoop, showing that the tool moved beyond source builds into the package-manager channels used by command-line users on several platforms.

How it is used

Common usage is to run `tspin application.log`, pipe log output through `tspin`, or wrap a command such as `kubectl logs` with `--exec`. The README also documents integration with `less`, environment-variable extras, command-line highlights, and a user theme file.

Why package nerds care

Package maintainers care about tailspin because it is a compact example of the Rust terminal-tool wave: a single executable, cross-platform packaging, no required daemon or service, and a configuration file only for users who want themed highlighting.

Timeline

Current upstream README: Documents `tspin` usage, multiple package-manager installs, and optional `~/.config/tailspin/theme.toml` customization.

Related projects

tailspin is adjacent to classic pagers and log viewers such as `less`, but it focuses on syntax-style highlighting for generic logs rather than on indexing, querying, or storing log data.

Sources

https://github.com/bensadeh/tailspin#readme
source_facts.package-manager

security posture

No protected-tool coverage found yet

No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for tailspin. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Build metadata lists 1 build dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

local files

Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.

Configuration files

Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.

Unix: ~/.config/tailspin/theme.toml

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`tspin`	cli	global executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-07-08

manager version6.1.0

manager updated2026-05-14

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detected6.1.0

https://github.com/bensadeh/tailspin

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:tailspin
Version	6.1.0
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/tailspin
Homepage	https://github.com/bensadeh/tailspin
Repository	https://github.com/bensadeh/tailspin
Upstream docs	https://github.com/bensadeh/tailspin#readme
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/bensadeh/tailspin/archive/refs/tags/6.1.0.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-05-14T12:05:08Z
Pulse	updated
Build dependencies	rust
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	tailspin
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Head Version	HEAD
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	head stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Debian apt95%

tailspin 5.4.2~dfsg-1+b1

log file highlighter

https://github.com/bensadeh/tailspin

sudo apt install tailspin

Section: admin
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: tailspin
3 dependencies
1 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Tailspin

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: tailspin from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

tailspin

nix profile install nixpkgs#tailspin

normalized package name match
Matched by: Tailspin

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ta/tailspin/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Ubuntu apt95%

tailspin 2.0.0+dfsg-1

log file highlighter

https://github.com/bensadeh/tailspin

sudo apt install tailspin

Section: universe/admin
Architecture: amd64
3 dependencies
1 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Tailspin

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: tailspin from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

apk95%

tailspin 5.5.0-r0

Log file highlighter

https://github.com/bensadeh/tailspin

sudo apk add tailspin

License: MIT
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: tailspin
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Tailspin

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: tailspin from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk95%

tailspin-bash-completion 5.5.0-r0

Bash completions for tailspin

https://github.com/bensadeh/tailspin

sudo apk add tailspin-bash-completion

License: MIT
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: tailspin
normalized package name match
Matched by: Tailspin

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: tailspin-bash-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk95%

tailspin-doc 5.5.0-r0

Log file highlighter (documentation)

https://github.com/bensadeh/tailspin

sudo apk add tailspin-doc

License: MIT
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: tailspin
normalized package name match
Matched by: Tailspin

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: tailspin-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk95%

tailspin-fish-completion 5.5.0-r0

Fish completions for tailspin

https://github.com/bensadeh/tailspin

sudo apk add tailspin-fish-completion

License: MIT
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: tailspin
normalized package name match
Matched by: Tailspin

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: tailspin-fish-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk95%

tailspin-zsh-completion 5.5.0-r0

Zsh completions for tailspin

https://github.com/bensadeh/tailspin

sudo apk add tailspin-zsh-completion

License: MIT
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: tailspin
normalized package name match
Matched by: Tailspin

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: tailspin-zsh-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

pacman95%

tailspin 6.1.0-1

A log file highlighter

https://github.com/bensadeh/tailspin

sudo pacman -S tailspin

License: MIT
Architecture: x86_64
normalized package name match
Matched by: Tailspin

Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: tailspin from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

Scoop95%

main/tailspin

scoop install main/tailspin

normalized package name match
Matched by: Tailspin

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · api.github.com · Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/tailspin.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/tailspin.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated configuration and credential file locations
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install tailspin with Homebrew, apk, apt, Nix, pacman, scoop

Additional install commands

macOS

Linux

Windows

Package summary

Project links

Commands and aliases

Project history and usage

Project history

Adoption history

How it is used

Why package nerds care

Timeline

Related projects

Sources

No protected-tool coverage found yet

Install behavior

Recommended review

Configuration and credential file locations

Configuration files

Installed executables

Version and freshness

Package metadata

Source database details

Other package-manager records

Internal package links

Topical hubs

Related tools

Same workflow

Agent security guides

Generated from repository data

Combined YAML source

Used sources