GNU bug report logs - #9370
"tail -f -1" should work

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Message #8 received at 9370 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: "Voelker, Bernhard" <bernhard.voelker <at> siemens-enterprise.com>
To: Eli the Beareded <gnu-bugs <at> panix.com>, "9370 <at> debbugs.gnu.org"
	<9370 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
Subject: RE: bug#9370: "tail -f -1" should work
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:21:03 +0200

Eli the Beareded wrote:
> $ tail -f -1 some.log
> tail: option used in invalid context -- 1
> $

I think you wanted this:
$ tail -f -n1 some.log

The syntax is explained quite nice in recent versions:

    -n, --lines=K            output the last K lines, instead of the last 10;
                             or use -n +K to output lines starting with the Kth
  ...
  If the first character of K (the number of bytes or lines) is a `+',
  print beginning with the Kth item from the start of each file, otherwise,
  print the last K items in the file.  K may have a multiplier suffix: ...

Have fun,
Berny

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