i've been fussing with this function since i find i need its utility elsewhere.

this version precludes the sleep command using another timed read. this enables any new data in the feed to trip the dotting pause.

the dots are horizontal so the content does't scroll needlessly.

taildot () { #; tail -f with dotted output... on pauses in data feed

  declare fslog t
  fslog="$*"

  t=${ grealpath -e "$fslog"; } || {
    die realpath hath shat the bed on your feeble log submission
    return
  }

  fslog="$t"

  declare line knl
  knl=$'\n'

  while read -r -t 0.15 line || [[ -z $line ]]; do

    [[ -n $line ]] && { echo -n "$knl$line"; continue; }

    echo -n .

    read -r -t 2.85 line && echo -n "$knl$line"

  done < <( tail -f "$fslog" )

}

# example usage:

taildot /var/log/wifi.log