app/vlogscli: add support for live tailing

Makefile

@@ -265,6 +265,14 @@ release-victoria-metrics-windows-goarch: victoria-metrics-windows-$(GOARCH)-prod
 	cd bin && rm -rf \
 		victoria-metrics-windows-$(GOARCH)-prod.exe
 
+release-victoria-logs-bundle: \
+	release-victoria-logs \
+	release-vlogscli
+
+publish-victoria-logs-bundle: \
+	publish-victoria-logs \
+	publish-vlogscli
+
 release-victoria-logs:
 	$(MAKE_PARALLEL) release-victoria-logs-linux-386 \
 		release-victoria-logs-linux-amd64 \

app/vlogscli/json_prettifier.go

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ const (
 	outputModeJSONMultiline  = outputMode(0)
 	outputModeJSONSingleline = outputMode(1)
 	outputModeLogfmt         = outputMode(2)
+	outputModeCompact        = outputMode(3)
 )
 
 func getOutputFormatter(outputMode outputMode) func(w io.Writer, fields []logstorage.Field) error {
@@ -31,6 +32,8 @@ func getOutputFormatter(outputMode outputMode) func(w io.Writer, fields []logsto
 		}
 	case outputModeLogfmt:
 		return writeLogfmtObject
+	case outputModeCompact:
+		return writeCompactObject
 	default:
 		panic(fmt.Errorf("BUG: unexpected outputMode=%d", outputMode))
 	}
@@ -94,8 +97,13 @@ func (jp *jsonPrettifier) prettifyJSONLines() error {
 		if err := jp.formatter(jp.bw, fields); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+
+		// Flush bw after every output line in order to show results as soon as they appear.
+		if err := jp.bw.Flush(); err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
-	return jp.bw.Flush()
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (jp *jsonPrettifier) Close() error {
@@ -161,6 +169,26 @@ func writeLogfmtObject(w io.Writer, fields []logstorage.Field) error {
 	return err
 }
 
+func writeCompactObject(w io.Writer, fields []logstorage.Field) error {
+	if len(fields) == 1 {
+		// Just write field value as is without name
+		_, err := fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s\n", fields[0].Value)
+		return err
+	}
+	if len(fields) == 2 && fields[0].Name == "_time" || fields[1].Name == "_time" {
+		// Write _time\tfieldValue as is
+		if fields[0].Name == "_time" {
+			_, err := fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s\t%s\n", fields[0].Value, fields[1].Value)
+			return err
+		}
+		_, err := fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s\t%s\n", fields[1].Value, fields[0].Value)
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Fall back to logfmt
+	return writeLogfmtObject(w, fields)
+}
+
 func writeJSONObject(w io.Writer, fields []logstorage.Field, isMultiline bool) error {
 	if len(fields) == 0 {
 		fmt.Fprintf(w, "{}\n")

app/vlogscli/main.go

@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	datasourceURL = flag.String("datasource.url", "http://localhost:9428/select/logsql/query", "URL for querying VictoriaLogs; "+
-		"see https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/querying/#querying-logs")
+		"see https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/querying/#querying-logs . See also -tail.url")
+	tailURL = flag.String("tail.url", "", "URL for live tailing queries to VictoriaLogs; see https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/querying/#live-tailing ."+
+		"The url is automatically detected from -datasource.url by replacing /query with /tail at the end if -tail.url is empty")
 	historyFile = flag.String("historyFile", "vlogscli-history", "Path to file with command history")
 	header      = flagutil.NewArrayString("header", "Optional header to pass in request -datasource.url in the form 'HeaderName: value'")
 )
@@ -95,9 +97,7 @@ func runReadlineLoop(rl *readline.Instance, incompleteLine *string) {
 			case io.EOF:
 				if s != "" {
 					// This is non-interactive query execution.
-					if err := executeQuery(context.Background(), rl, s, outputMode); err != nil {
+					executeQuery(context.Background(), rl, s, outputMode)
-						fmt.Fprintf(rl, "%s\n", err)
-					}
 				}
 				return
 			case readline.ErrInterrupt:
@@ -147,6 +147,13 @@ func runReadlineLoop(rl *readline.Instance, incompleteLine *string) {
 			s = ""
 			continue
 		}
+		if s == `\c` {
+			fmt.Fprintf(rl, "compact output mode\n")
+			outputMode = outputModeCompact
+			historyLines = pushToHistory(rl, historyLines, s)
+			s = ""
+			continue
+		}
 		if s == `\logfmt` {
 			fmt.Fprintf(rl, "logfmt output mode\n")
 			outputMode = outputModeLogfmt
@@ -163,18 +170,9 @@ func runReadlineLoop(rl *readline.Instance, incompleteLine *string) {
 
 		// Execute the query
 		ctx, cancel := signal.NotifyContext(context.Background(), os.Interrupt)
-		err = executeQuery(ctx, rl, s, outputMode)
+		executeQuery(ctx, rl, s, outputMode)
 		cancel()
 
-		if err != nil {
-			if errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
-				fmt.Fprintf(rl, "\n")
-			} else {
-				fmt.Fprintf(rl, "%s\n", err)
-			}
-			// Save queries in the history even if they weren't finished successfully
-		}
-
 		historyLines = pushToHistory(rl, historyLines, s)
 		s = ""
 		rl.SetPrompt(firstLinePrompt)
@@ -257,26 +255,90 @@ func printCommandsHelp(w io.Writer) {
 \h - show this help
 \s - singleline json output mode
 \m - multiline json output mode
+\c - compact output
 \logfmt - logfmt output mode
+\tail <query> - live tail <query> results
 `)
 }
 
-func executeQuery(ctx context.Context, output io.Writer, s string, outputMode outputMode) error {
+func executeQuery(ctx context.Context, output io.Writer, qStr string, outputMode outputMode) {
-	// Parse the query and convert it to canonical view.
+	if strings.HasPrefix(qStr, `\tail `) {
-	s = strings.TrimSuffix(s, ";")
+		tailQuery(ctx, output, qStr, outputMode)
-	q, err := logstorage.ParseQuery(s)
+		return
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("cannot parse query: %w", err)
 	}
-	qStr := q.String()
+
+	respBody := getQueryResponse(ctx, output, qStr, outputMode, *datasourceURL)
+	if respBody == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		_ = respBody.Close()
+	}()
+
+	if err := readWithLess(respBody); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(output, "error when reading query response: %s\n", err)
+		return
+	}
+}
+
+func tailQuery(ctx context.Context, output io.Writer, qStr string, outputMode outputMode) {
+	qStr = strings.TrimPrefix(qStr, `\tail `)
+	qURL, err := getTailURL()
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(output, "%s\n", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	respBody := getQueryResponse(ctx, output, qStr, outputMode, qURL)
+	if respBody == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		_ = respBody.Close()
+	}()
+
+	if _, err := io.Copy(output, respBody); err != nil {
+		if !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) && !isErrPipe(err) {
+			fmt.Fprintf(output, "error when live tailing query response: %s\n", err)
+		}
+		fmt.Fprintf(output, "\n")
+		return
+	}
+}
+
+func getTailURL() (string, error) {
+	if *tailURL != "" {
+		return *tailURL, nil
+	}
+
+	u, err := url.Parse(*datasourceURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("cannot parse -datasource.url=%q: %w", *datasourceURL, err)
+	}
+	if !strings.HasSuffix(u.Path, "/query") {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("cannot find /query suffix in -datasource.url=%q", *datasourceURL)
+	}
+	u.Path = u.Path[:len(u.Path)-len("/query")] + "/tail"
+	return u.String(), nil
+}
+
+func getQueryResponse(ctx context.Context, output io.Writer, qStr string, outputMode outputMode, qURL string) io.ReadCloser {
+	// Parse the query and convert it to canonical view.
+	qStr = strings.TrimSuffix(qStr, ";")
+	q, err := logstorage.ParseQuery(qStr)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(output, "cannot parse query: %s\n", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	qStr = q.String()
 	fmt.Fprintf(output, "executing [%s]...", qStr)
 
-	// Prepare HTTP request for VictoriaLogs
+	// Prepare HTTP request for qURL
 	args := make(url.Values)
 	args.Set("query", qStr)
 	data := strings.NewReader(args.Encode())
 
-	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, "POST", *datasourceURL, data)
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, "POST", qURL, data)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(fmt.Errorf("BUG: cannot prepare request to server: %w", err))
 	}
@@ -285,39 +347,36 @@ func executeQuery(ctx context.Context, output io.Writer, s string, outputMode ou
 		req.Header.Set(h.Name, h.Value)
 	}
 
-	// Execute HTTP request at VictoriaLogs
+	// Execute HTTP request at qURL
 	startTime := time.Now()
 	resp, err := httpClient.Do(req)
 	queryDuration := time.Since(startTime)
 	fmt.Fprintf(output, "; duration: %.3fs\n", queryDuration.Seconds())
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("cannot execute query: %w", err)
+		if errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+			fmt.Fprintf(output, "\n")
+		} else {
+			fmt.Fprintf(output, "cannot execute query: %s\n", err)
+		}
+		return nil
 	}
-	defer func() {
-		_ = resp.Body.Close()
-	}()
 
+	// Verify response code
 	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
 		body, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
 		if err != nil {
 			body = []byte(fmt.Sprintf("cannot read response body: %s", err))
 		}
-		return fmt.Errorf("unexpected status code: %d; response body:\n%s", resp.StatusCode, body)
+		fmt.Fprintf(output, "unexpected status code: %d; response body:\n%s\n", resp.StatusCode, body)
-	}
-
-	// Prettify the response and stream it to 'less'.
-	jp := newJSONPrettifier(resp.Body, outputMode)
-	defer func() {
-		_ = jp.Close()
-	}()
-
-	if err := readWithLess(jp); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("error when reading query response: %w", err)
-	}
-
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	// Prettify the response body
+	jp := newJSONPrettifier(resp.Body, outputMode)
+
+	return jp
+}
+
 var httpClient = &http.Client{}
 
 var headers []headerEntry

docs/VictoriaLogs/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ according to [these docs](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/quicksta
 
 ## [v0.34.0](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/releases/tag/v0.34.0-victorialogs)
 
+* FEATURE: [vlogscli](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/querying/vlogscli/): add ability to live tail query results - see [these docs](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/querying/vlogscli/#live-tailing).
+* FEATURE: [vlogscli](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/querying/vlogscli/): add compact output mode for query results. It can be enabled by typing `\c` and then pressing `enter`. See [these docs](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/querying/vlogscli/#output-modes).
+
 Released at 2024-10-08
 
 * FEATURE: [vlogscli](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/querying/vlogscli/): add ability to display results in `logfmt` mode, single-line and multi-line JSON modes according [these docs](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/querying/vlogscli/#output-modes).

docs/VictoriaLogs/querying/vlogscli.md

@@ -77,6 +77,17 @@ See also [`less` docs](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/less.1.html) and
 [command-line integration docs for VictoriaMetrics](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/querying/#command-line).
 
 
+## Live tailing
+
+`vlogsql` enters live tailing mode when the query is prepended with `\tail ` command. For example:
+
+```
+;> \tail {kubernetes_container_name="vmagent"};
+```
+
+By default `vlogscli` derives [the URL for live tailing](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/querying/#live-tailing) from the `-datasource.url` command-line flag
+by replacing `/query` with `/tail` at the end of `-datasource.url`. The URL for live tailing can be specified explicitly via `-tail.url` command-line flag.
+
 ## Query history
 
 `vlogsql` supports query history - press `up` and `down` keys for navigating the history.
@@ -90,6 +101,7 @@ Press `Enter` when the needed query is found in order to execute it.
 Press `Ctrl+C` for exit from the `search history` mode.
 See also [other available shortcuts](https://github.com/chzyer/readline/blob/f533ef1caae91a1fcc90875ff9a5a030f0237c6a/doc/shortcut.md).
 
+
 ## Output modes
 
 By default `vlogscli` displays query results as prettified JSON object with every field on a separate line.
@@ -99,4 +111,8 @@ Fields in every JSON object are sorted in alphabetical order. This simplifies lo
 
 * A single JSON line per every result. Type `\s` and press `enter` for this mode.
 * Multline JSON per every result. Type `\m` and press `enter` for this mode.
+* Compact output. Type `\c` and press `enter` for this mode.
+  This mode shows field values as is if the response contains a single field
+  (for example if [`fields _msg` pipe](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/logsql/#fields-pipe) is used)
+  plus optional [`_time` field](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/keyconcepts/#time-field).
 * [Logfmt output](https://brandur.org/logfmt). Type `\logfmt` and press `enter` for this mode.