Peeping Tom is a shareware init/background application that keeps track of the current applications and desk accessories that are open. When processes are quit, Peeping Tom writes the information that it has on the dead process to a text file in the System Folder. The log file shows information on when each process was started and the total time it ran. Peeping Tom also shows the average CPU usage of the process. The percentage represents how much the process used of the CPU while the process was running. The CPU usage percentage can be very misleading since some applications hog the processor even when they are in the background. When the computer is restarted Peeping Tom writes out all the processes including the Finder.
Peeping Tom is very useful for monitoring computers. Peeping Tom sits in the background and silently monitors the user's activities. It keeps track of time spent on the computer, which is perfect for those who bill their customers on a hourly basis. Peeping Tom outputs to a text file that can then be easily searched.
While running, Peeping Tom takes almost no processing time away from other applications. Because of this, the times in the log file can be off by as much as three seconds (which is a very small price to pay). Peeping Tom comes alive every five seconds and scans for processes. Any process's that have died are immediately logged to the log file.
Peeping Tom currently keeps track of only twenty processes at a time. I felt twenty processes is five times what I usually keep open at a time. Peeping Tom also writes out the first twenty characters of a process's name. This is sufficient in recognizing the process.
The default file type is 'TEXT' and the default creator type is 'KAHL'. This can very easily be changed using a program like ResEdit. I have created a template to make the changing of these settings very easy.
REQUIREMENTS:
Peeping Tom requires System 7 because of the Process Manager dependence. Peeping Tom also handles all Apple Events. Peeping Tom requires 20K of RAM to run. I made Peeping Tom with Think C 6.0, and have heard of many problems with the Smart Link setting. I have not had problems in this application, but to feel safe about distributing Peeping Tom I decided to turn Smart Link option off. When Symantec releases an update to fix the Smart Link problem, Peeping Tom will require about10K to operate.
INSTALLATION:
To install Peeping Tom on your computer just uncompact it and drag the icon to the System Folder. The Finder will then put Peeping Tom into the Extensions Folder where this program belongs.
Peeping Tom will create a file called "Log File." Use any text editor to look at this file. If you take the log file out of the System Folder then Peeping Tom is smart enough to start another file.
VERSION HISTORY:
Version 1.1 - September 20, 1993
- Peeping Tom know uses less and less of the processor's time.
- Added more dialog items with the notification manager.
Version 1.0 - September 1, 1993
- First release version.
- Has only been tested on a Centris 610. Works in 32 bit addressing mode.
KNOWN PROBLEMS:
To make sure that all processes are logged, never leave the log file open in any text editor when quitting any other processes. This will not cause any errors, but the process that died may not be logged. The Finder lets many applications open the same document at once. Peeping Tom tries to open the log file, if noErr occurs it writes the information to the file. If there is an error it will then skip that dead process and try to write it the next time through its loop. Sometimes it will successfully log the process and then when the user saves the opened log file the text editor writes over what Peeping Tom just wrote.
COPYING PEEPING TOM:
Peeping Tom is shareware. If you use this program I ask that you send me a small shareware fee of $5.00. This is a very small price to pay to keep me writing more software. Once you become a registered user you will be eligible for all new versions of Peeping Tom.
I understand that for foreign users, exchanging currency can be very troublesome. So I ask that foreign users send me the equivalent of $5.00 in your nation's currency. If the cost of sending mail is very high, then take the postage fee out of the shareware fee and send me the difference.
Peeping Tom is shareware, but feel free to distribute this program to others (with the Read Me file included). I only ask that if you use Peeping Tom that you pay the shareware fee.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Please send all comments, questions or suggestions to me at the following address:
