LogLens is a powerful log processing engine with an interactive Terminal UI for viewing and analyzing system logs.
Think of it as a Linux equivalent to Windows Event Viewer.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
Core Engine
- Pluggable Sources: Extensible architecture for different log sources
- journalctl (systemd journal) – fully implemented
- File-based logs (text & JSON Lines)
- Easy to add: Docker, nginx, remote syslog, cloud APIs
- Structured Output: Normalized LogRecord objects with:
- ISO-8601 timestamps (auto-converted to local timezone)
- Severity numbers (0-7) and labels (EMERG, ALERT, CRIT, ERROR, WARNING, NOTICE, INFO, DEBUG)
- Message content
- Raw data preservation for debugging
- Powerful Filtering:
- Exact severity match
- Minimum severity threshold (e.g., “WARNING and above”)
- Keyword search (case-sensitive or insensitive)
- Combinable filters with AND logic
Interactive TUI
- 3-Pane Layout: Categories sidebar | Log table | Details panel
- Color-Coded Severity Levels: Instantly spot critical issues
- EMERG/ALERT: Bright red/magenta
- ERROR: Red
- WARNING: Yellow
- INFO: Green
- DEBUG: Dim
- Real-Time Filtering: Click categories in sidebar for instant filtering
- Dual Details View: Toggle between curated (human-readable) and raw (full JSON)
- Time Range Queries: Filter logs by time with no memory limits when –since is used
- Latest-First Sorting: Most recent logs always on top
- Keyboard Navigation: Full keyboard control for efficient workflow
Website: github.com/nirakar24/loglens
Support:
Developer: LogLens Contributors
License: MIT License

LogLens is written in Python. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| LogFile Viewers | |
|---|---|
| lnav | Curses-based utility for viewing and analyzing log files. |
| QJournalctl | Graphical User Interface for systemd’s journalctl |
| journalctl | Query and display messages from the journal |
| KSystemLog | System log viewer for KDE |
| toolong | View, tail, merge, and search log files |
| humanlog | Reads logs from stdin and prints them back to stdout, but prettier. |
| Xlogmaster | GTK+ based program to keep track of logfiles and devices |
| frontail | Stream logs to your web browser |
| logrifle | Designed to "rifle through" large logfiles |
| Gnome-logs | View and search logs with this graphical utility |
| glogg | Qt graphical log explorer |
| MultiTail | View multiple logfiles windowed on the console |
| Chipmunk | Fast logfile viewer that can deal with huge logfiles (>10 GB) |
| QLogExplorer | Qt-based tool for exploring log files |
| Grafito | Simple, self-contained web-based log viewer for journalctl |
| swatch | Logfile viewer with regexp matching, highlighting & hooks |
| logmaster-gtk-d | Log viewer for Linux built with GTK and D |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
Explore our comprehensive directory of recommended free and open source software. Our carefully curated collection spans every major software category.This directory is part of our ongoing series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. It features hundreds of detailed reviews, along with open source alternatives to proprietary solutions from major corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. You’ll also find interesting projects to try, hardware coverage, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Know a useful open source Linux program that we haven’t covered yet? Let us know by completing this form. |

