#Name

watchfs - watch a file or directory being changed

#Synopsis

$ watchfs [options...] [path...]

#Description

watchfs watches files and directories being changed.

#Options

• --help: Display this message
• -E, --exit-after-change: Wait for first change and exit
• -a, --watch-all-events: Watch all types of events
• -d, --watch-delete-events: Watch file deletion events
• -m, --watch-file-modify-events: Watch file content being modified
• -M, --watch-file-metadata-events: Watch file metadata being modified
• -c, --watch-directory-child-creation-events: Watch directory child creation events
• -D, --watch-directory-child-deletion-events: Watch directory child deletion events

#Arguments

• path: Files and/or directories to watch

#Examples

# watch /tmp with all events being handled (child creation and deletion)
$ watchfs -a /tmp/
# watch /tmp with child creation events being handled
$ watchfs -c /tmp/
# watch /tmp with child creation events being handled
$ watchfs -D /tmp/

# watch /tmp with all events being handled (child creation and deletion) and exit after first change
$ watchfs -E /tmp/

# watch /tmp/test_file with all events being handled (file being deleted, metadata being modified or content modified)
$ watchfs -a /tmp/test_file
# watch /tmp/test_file being deleted
$ watchfs -d /tmp/test_file
# watch /tmp/test_file being metadata-modified
$ watchfs -M /tmp/test_file
# watch /tmp/test_file being content-modified
$ watchfs -m /tmp/test_file

#See also

• listdir(1) to list directory entries
• ls(1) to list directory contents