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I'm aware of xsel and xclip, ( also discussed in: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/749544/pipe-to-from-the-clipboard ), and use them often.

However, now I would like to have the primary clipboard dumped to stdout, but in "follow mode". Currently, if I try this:

$ xclip -o Currently, if I try this: $ xsel -o Currently, if I try this: $

... the commands exit immediately.

What I would like instead, is a behavior similar to tail -f /var/log/syslog - that is, "follow mode": tail blocks the terminal, and whenever a new line shows in the file, it dumps it to standard output.

I'd like something similar, but for whenever I make a new copy (i.e., press Ctrl-C, or Ctrl-Shift-C in terminal) - that is, whenever I change the primary clipboard contents.

Is there a command that will help me do that in bash?

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    I do similar for myself Would you be happy with a 16 line python script? Commented Oct 23, 2017 at 18:52
  • Thanks @Tagwint - would be quite happy with that :) Commented Oct 23, 2017 at 19:18
  • Are you using desktop which supports appindicators by any chance ? Commented Oct 24, 2017 at 17:45

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OK, here's a python solution. I don't think it needs comments, it does exactly what requested, but let me know if my assumption is wrong.

#!/usr/bin/env python import sys import signal import gi gi.require_version("Gtk", "3.0") from gi.repository import Gtk, Gdk def pcallBack(*args): print pclip.wait_for_text() if __name__ == '__main__': import signal signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, signal.SIG_DFL) pclip = Gtk.Clipboard.get(Gdk.SELECTION_PRIMARY) pclip.connect('owner-change',pcallBack) Gtk.main()
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  • Awesome, @Tagwint, thanks so much for that! It's just that I needed the dump only when I make a copy (that is, press Ctrl-C), your script dumps every time I make a new text selection - but that is easily fixed by changing Gdk.SELECTION_PRIMARY into Gdk.SELECTION_CLIPBOARD (corrected my OP to reflect that). Thanks again - cheers! Commented Oct 24, 2017 at 14:24

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