This is the procedure for documenting input commands and output on the console, terminal or in shell to a text file with the default typescript utility SCRIPT.

What is SCRIPT?

SCRIPT is a default FreeBSD and UNIX utility, that makes a typescript of a terminal session. It works on the console, on terminals and in a shell. The typescript is stored in a text file, that serves as documentation later.

Make typescript with SCRIPT.

In this example, input and output is written to the script text file test.txt for later documentation.

$ script test.txt
Script started, output file is test.txt
$ date
Fri Sep 5 13:52:51 CEST 2025
$ freebsd-version
14.3-RELEASE-p2
$ exit
Script done, output file is test.txt

Additional input and output can be appended to the script. This avoids overwriting the initial script.

$ script -a test.txt
Script started, output file is test.txt

Review typescript from SCRIPT.

The script can later be reviewed with default utilities or even replayed by SCRIPT itself.

$ cat test.txt 
Script started on Fri Sep 5 13:52:48 2025
$ date
Fri Sep 5 13:52:51 CEST 2025
$ freebsd-version
14.3-RELEASE-p2
$ exit
Script done on Fri Sep 5 13:53:13 2025

Manual for SCRIPT.

See the manual for features, such as realtime playback and similar features.

$ man script