record a session to a file.. use script.
creates a typescript file that can be played back. App available to play them back, compiled from RPM util-linux
SCRIPT(1) BSD General Commands Manual SCRIPT(1)
NAME
script - make typescript of terminal session
SYNOPSIS
script [-a] [-f] [-q] [-t] [file]
DESCRIPTION
Script makes a typescript of everything printed on your terminal. It is
useful for students who need a hardcopy record of an interactive session
as proof of an assignment, as the typescript file can be printed out
later with lpr(1).
If the argument file is given, script saves all dialogue in file. If no
file name is given, the typescript is saved in the file typescript.
Options:
-a Append the output to file or typescript, retaining the prior con-
tents.
-f Flush output after each write. This is nice for telecooperation:
One person does `mkfifo foo; script -f foo' and another can
supervise real-time what is being done using `cat foo'.
-q Be quiet.
-t Output timeing data to standard error. This data contains two
fields, separated by a space. The first field indicates how much
time elapsed since the previous output. The second field indi-
cates how many characters were output this time. This information
can be used to replay typescripts with realistic typing and out-
put delays.
The script ends when the forked shell exits (a control-D to exit the
Bourne shell (sh(1)), and exit, logout or control-d (if ignoreeof is not
set) for the C-shell, csh(1)).
Certain interactive commands, such as vi(1), create garbage in the type-
script file. Script works best with commands that do not manipulate the
screen, the results are meant to emulate a hardcopy terminal.
Playback of script files
REPLAY(1) User Contributed Perl Documentation REPLAY(1)
NAME
replay - play back typescripts, using timing information
SYNOPSIS
replay timingfile [typescript [divisor]]
DESCRIPTION
This program replays a typescript, using timing information to ensure
that output happens at the same speed as it originally appeared when
the script was recorded. It is only guaranteed to work properly if run
on the same terminal the script was recorded on.
The timings information is what script outputs to standard error if it
is run with the -t parameter.
By default, the typescript to display is assumed to be named "type-
script", but other filenames may be specified, as the second parameter.
If the third parameter exits, it is used as a time divisor. For exam-
ple, specifying a divisor of 2 makes the script be replayed twice as
fast.
EXAMPLE
% script -t 2> timingfile
Script started, file is typescript
% ls
% exit
Script done, file is typescript
% replay timingfile
SEE ALSO
script(1)