delay_output - Linux
Overview
delay_output is a Linux command for controlling the timing of command output. It can be used to introduce delays between the execution of commands or during the display of output. This makes it a valuable tool for debugging, testing, and simulating real-world scenarios.
Syntax
delay_output [OPTIONS] [COMMAND] [ARGUMENTS]
Options/Flags
| Option | Description | Default |
|—|—|—|
| -d
, --delay
| Delay time in seconds | 0 |
| -m
, --message
| Display a message before the delay | "" |
| -f
, --flush
| Flush output before the delay | No |
Examples
Simple delay: Delay for 5 seconds before executing the ls
command:
delay_output -d 5 ls
Delay with message: Display a message before a 3-second delay:
delay_output -m "Delaying for 3 seconds..." -d 3
Flush before delay: Flush output before a 5-second delay:
delay_output -f -d 5
Complex usage: Introduce a 2-second delay between each line of the cat
output:
cat some_file | delay_output -d 2
Common Issues
- Command not found: Ensure
delay_output
is installed and in the command path. - Invalid delay: The delay time must be a positive number.
- No output delay: If the command does not produce any output, no delay will be introduced.
Integration
With other commands: Connect delay_output
with other commands to control their execution timing:
echo "Starting command..." | delay_output -d 3 | some_command
In scripts: Use delay_output
in scripts to introduce delays or simulate real-world scenarios:
#!/bin/bash
# Simulate a 5-second server response
delay_output -m "Waiting for server response..." -d 5
echo "Server response received."
Related Commands
- sleep: Pause execution for a specified duration
- time: Measure the execution time of a command
- ts: Timestamp output for debugging and logging