/watchexec

Executes commands in response to file modifications

Primary LanguageRustApache License 2.0Apache-2.0

CI status

Watchexec

Software development often involves running the same commands over and over. Boring!

watchexec is a simple, standalone tool that watches a path and runs a command whenever it detects modifications.

Example use cases:

  • Automatically run unit tests
  • Run linters/syntax checkers

Features

  • Simple invocation and use, does not require a cryptic command line involving xargs
  • Runs on OS X, Linux, and Windows
  • Monitors current directory and all subdirectories for changes
  • Coalesces multiple filesystem events into one, for editors that use swap/backup files during saving
  • Loads .gitignore and .ignore files
  • Uses process groups to keep hold of forking programs
  • Provides the paths that changed in environment variables
  • Does not require a language runtime, not tied to any particular language or ecosystem
  • And more!

Quick start

Watch all JavaScript, CSS and HTML files in the current directory and all subdirectories for changes, running npm run build when a change is detected:

$ watchexec -e js,css,html npm run build

Call/restart python server.py when any Python file in the current directory (and all subdirectories) changes:

$ watchexec -r -e py -- python server.py

More usage examples: in the CLI README!

Install

  • As pre-built binary package: https://watchexec.github.io/downloads/
  • With your package manager for Arch, Homebrew, Nix, Scoop, Chocolatey…
  • From source with Cargo: cargo install watchexec-cli

All options in detail: in the CLI README.

Extend

  • watchexec library: to create more specialised watchexec-powered tools! such as:
  • clearscreen: to clear the (terminal) screen on every platform.
  • command group: to run commands in process groups.
  • notify: to respond to file modifications (third-party).
  • globset: to match globs (third-party).