For all you linux n00bs out there just getting into compiling and installing programmes, this is really handy when your compilation fails and you’ve just watched reams of text scroll past with no chance to read what it says.  Basically it records the I/O of a command line session into a log file for later perusal.

Before entering your command in the terminal, type:

script yourscript.log

At the end of the session, press:

ctrl-d

To dump the output to the above-named file. Then you can read it with nano or the text editor of your choice.