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notify/
lib.rs

1//! Cross-platform file system notification library
2//!
3//! # Installation
4//!
5//! ```toml
6//! [dependencies]
7//! notify = "8.1.0"
8//! ```
9//!
10//! If you want debounced events (or don't need them in-order), see [notify-debouncer-mini](https://docs.rs/notify-debouncer-mini/latest/notify_debouncer_mini/)
11//! or [notify-debouncer-full](https://docs.rs/notify-debouncer-full/latest/notify_debouncer_full/).
12//!
13//! ## Features
14//!
15//! List of compilation features, see below for details
16//!
17//! - `serde` for serialization of events
18//! - `macos_fsevent` enabled by default, for fsevent backend on macos
19//! - `macos_kqueue` for kqueue backend on macos
20//! - `serialization-compat-6` restores the serialization behavior of notify 6, off by default
21//!
22//! ### Serde
23//!
24//! Events are serializable via [serde](https://serde.rs) if the `serde` feature is enabled:
25//!
26//! ```toml
27//! notify = { version = "8.1.0", features = ["serde"] }
28//! ```
29//!
30//! # Known Problems
31//!
32//! ### Network filesystems
33//!
34//! Network mounted filesystems like NFS may not emit any events for notify to listen to.
35//! This applies especially to WSL programs watching windows paths ([issue #254](https://github.com/notify-rs/notify/issues/254)).
36//!
37//! A workaround is the [`PollWatcher`] backend.
38//!
39//! ### Docker with Linux on macOS M1
40//!
41//! Docker on macOS M1 [throws](https://github.com/notify-rs/notify/issues/423) `Function not implemented (os error 38)`.
42//! You have to manually use the [`PollWatcher`], as the native backend isn't available inside the emulation.
43//!
44//! ### macOS, FSEvents and unowned files
45//!
46//! Due to the inner security model of FSEvents (see [FileSystemEventSecurity](https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/Darwin/Conceptual/FSEvents_ProgGuide/FileSystemEventSecurity/FileSystemEventSecurity.html)),
47//! some events cannot be observed easily when trying to follow files that do not
48//! belong to you. In this case, reverting to the pollwatcher can fix the issue,
49//! with a slight performance cost.
50//!
51//! ### Editor Behaviour
52//!
53//! If you rely on precise events (Write/Delete/Create..), you will notice that the actual events
54//! can differ a lot between file editors. Some truncate the file on save, some create a new one and replace the old one.
55//! See also [this](https://github.com/notify-rs/notify/issues/247) and [this](https://github.com/notify-rs/notify/issues/113#issuecomment-281836995) issues for example.
56//!
57//! ### Parent folder deletion
58//!
59//! If you want to receive an event for a deletion of folder `b` for the path `/a/b/..`, you will have to watch its parent `/a`.
60//! See [here](https://github.com/notify-rs/notify/issues/403) for more details.
61//!
62//! ### Pseudo Filesystems like /proc, /sys
63//!
64//! Some filesystems like `/proc` and `/sys` on *nix do not emit change events or use correct file change dates.
65//! To circumvent that problem you can use the [`PollWatcher`] with the `compare_contents` option.
66//!
67//! ### Linux: Bad File Descriptor / No space left on device
68//!
69//! This may be the case of running into the max-files watched limits of your user or system.
70//! (Files also includes folders.) Note that for recursive watched folders each file and folder inside counts towards the limit.
71//!
72//! You may increase this limit in linux via
73//! ```sh
74//! sudo sysctl fs.inotify.max_user_instances=8192 # example number
75//! sudo sysctl fs.inotify.max_user_watches=524288 # example number
76//! sudo sysctl -p
77//! ```
78//!
79//! Note that the [`PollWatcher`] is not restricted by this limitation, so it may be an alternative if your users can't increase the limit.
80//!
81//! ### Watching large directories
82//!
83//! When watching a very large amount of files, notify may fail to receive all events.
84//! For example the linux backend is documented to not be a 100% reliable source. See also issue [#412](https://github.com/notify-rs/notify/issues/412).
85//!
86//! # Examples
87//!
88//! For more examples visit the [examples folder](https://github.com/notify-rs/notify/tree/main/examples) in the repository.
89//!
90//! ```rust
91//! use notify::{Event, Result, WatchMode, Watcher};
92//! use std::{path::Path, sync::mpsc};
93//!
94//! fn main() -> Result<()> {
95//!     let (tx, rx) = mpsc::channel::<Result<Event>>();
96//!
97//!     // Use recommended_watcher() to automatically select the best implementation
98//!     // for your platform. The `EventHandler` passed to this constructor can be a
99//!     // closure, a `std::sync::mpsc::Sender`, a `crossbeam_channel::Sender`, or
100//!     // another type the trait is implemented for.
101//!     let mut watcher = notify::recommended_watcher(tx)?;
102//!
103//!     // Add a path to be watched. All files and directories at that path and
104//!     // below will be monitored for changes.
105//! #     #[cfg(not(any(
106//! #     target_os = "freebsd",
107//! #     target_os = "openbsd",
108//! #     target_os = "dragonfly",
109//! #     target_os = "netbsd")))]
110//! #     { // "." doesn't exist on BSD for some reason in CI
111//!     watcher.watch(Path::new("."), WatchMode::recursive())?;
112//! #     }
113//! #     #[cfg(any())]
114//! #     { // don't run this in doctests, it blocks forever
115//!     // Block forever, printing out events as they come in
116//!     for res in rx {
117//!         match res {
118//!             Ok(event) => println!("event: {:?}", event),
119//!             Err(e) => println!("watch error: {:?}", e),
120//!         }
121//!     }
122//! #     }
123//!
124//!     Ok(())
125//! }
126//! ```
127//!
128//! ## With different configurations
129//!
130//! It is possible to create several watchers with different configurations or implementations that
131//! all call the same event function. This can accommodate advanced behaviour or work around limits.
132//!
133//! ```rust
134//! # use notify::{Result, WatchMode, Watcher};
135//! # use std::path::Path;
136//! #
137//! # fn main() -> Result<()> {
138//!       fn event_fn(res: Result<notify::Event>) {
139//!           match res {
140//!              Ok(event) => println!("event: {:?}", event),
141//!              Err(e) => println!("watch error: {:?}", e),
142//!           }
143//!       }
144//!
145//!       let mut watcher1 = notify::recommended_watcher(event_fn)?;
146//!       // we will just use the same watcher kind again here
147//!       let mut watcher2 = notify::recommended_watcher(event_fn)?;
148//! #     #[cfg(not(any(
149//! #     target_os = "freebsd",
150//! #     target_os = "openbsd",
151//! #     target_os = "dragonfly",
152//! #     target_os = "netbsd")))]
153//! #     { // "." doesn't exist on BSD for some reason in CI
154//! #     watcher1.watch(Path::new("."), WatchMode::recursive())?;
155//! #     watcher2.watch(Path::new("."), WatchMode::recursive())?;
156//! #     }
157//!       // dropping the watcher1/2 here (no loop etc) will end the program
158//! #
159//! #     Ok(())
160//! # }
161//! ```
162
163#![deny(missing_docs)]
164
165pub use config::{Config, RecursiveMode, TargetMode, WatchMode};
166pub use error::{Error, ErrorKind, Result};
167pub use notify_types::event::{self, Event, EventKind};
168#[cfg(test)]
169use std::collections::HashSet;
170use std::path::Path;
171
172pub(crate) type Receiver<T> = std::sync::mpsc::Receiver<T>;
173pub(crate) type Sender<T> = std::sync::mpsc::Sender<T>;
174#[cfg(any(
175    target_os = "linux",
176    target_os = "android",
177    target_os = "windows",
178    all(target_os = "macos", feature = "macos_kqueue", test)
179))]
180pub(crate) type BoundSender<T> = std::sync::mpsc::SyncSender<T>;
181
182#[inline]
183pub(crate) fn unbounded<T>() -> (Sender<T>, Receiver<T>) {
184    std::sync::mpsc::channel()
185}
186
187#[cfg(any(
188    target_os = "linux",
189    target_os = "android",
190    target_os = "windows",
191    all(target_os = "macos", feature = "macos_kqueue", test)
192))]
193#[inline]
194pub(crate) fn bounded<T>(cap: usize) -> (BoundSender<T>, Receiver<T>) {
195    std::sync::mpsc::sync_channel(cap)
196}
197
198#[cfg(all(target_os = "macos", not(feature = "macos_kqueue")))]
199pub use crate::fsevent::FsEventWatcher;
200#[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "android"))]
201pub use crate::inotify::INotifyWatcher;
202#[cfg(any(
203    target_os = "freebsd",
204    target_os = "openbsd",
205    target_os = "netbsd",
206    target_os = "dragonfly",
207    target_os = "ios",
208    all(target_os = "macos", feature = "macos_kqueue")
209))]
210pub use crate::kqueue::KqueueWatcher;
211pub use null::NullWatcher;
212pub use poll::PollWatcher;
213#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
214pub use windows::ReadDirectoryChangesWatcher;
215
216#[cfg(all(target_os = "macos", not(feature = "macos_kqueue")))]
217pub mod fsevent;
218#[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "android"))]
219pub mod inotify;
220#[cfg(any(
221    target_os = "freebsd",
222    target_os = "openbsd",
223    target_os = "dragonfly",
224    target_os = "netbsd",
225    target_os = "ios",
226    all(target_os = "macos", feature = "macos_kqueue")
227))]
228pub mod kqueue;
229#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
230pub mod windows;
231
232pub mod null;
233pub mod poll;
234
235mod bimap;
236mod config;
237mod consolidating_path_trie;
238mod error;
239
240#[cfg(test)]
241pub(crate) mod test;
242
243/// The set of requirements for watcher event handling functions.
244///
245/// # Example implementation
246///
247/// ```no_run
248/// use notify::{Event, Result, EventHandler};
249///
250/// /// Prints received events
251/// struct EventPrinter;
252///
253/// impl EventHandler for EventPrinter {
254///     fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
255///         if let Ok(event) = event {
256///             println!("Event: {:?}", event);
257///         }
258///     }
259/// }
260/// ```
261pub trait EventHandler: Send + 'static {
262    /// Handles an event.
263    fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>);
264}
265
266impl<F> EventHandler for F
267where
268    F: FnMut(Result<Event>) + Send + 'static,
269{
270    fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
271        (self)(event);
272    }
273}
274
275#[cfg(feature = "crossbeam-channel")]
276impl EventHandler for crossbeam_channel::Sender<Result<Event>> {
277    fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
278        let _ = self.send(event);
279    }
280}
281
282#[cfg(feature = "flume")]
283impl EventHandler for flume::Sender<Result<Event>> {
284    fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
285        let _ = self.send(event);
286    }
287}
288
289impl EventHandler for std::sync::mpsc::Sender<Result<Event>> {
290    fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
291        let _ = self.send(event);
292    }
293}
294
295/// Watcher kind enumeration
296#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
297#[non_exhaustive]
298pub enum WatcherKind {
299    /// inotify backend (linux)
300    Inotify,
301    /// FS-Event backend (mac)
302    Fsevent,
303    /// KQueue backend (bsd,optionally mac)
304    Kqueue,
305    /// Polling based backend (fallback)
306    PollWatcher,
307    /// Windows backend
308    ReadDirectoryChangesWatcher,
309    /// Fake watcher for testing
310    NullWatcher,
311}
312
313/// Providing methods for adding and removing paths to watch.
314///
315/// `Box<dyn PathsMut>` is created by [`Watcher::paths_mut`]. See its documentation for more.
316pub trait PathsMut {
317    /// Add a new path to watch. See [`Watcher::watch`] for more.
318    fn add(&mut self, path: &Path, watch_mode: WatchMode) -> Result<()>;
319
320    /// Remove a path from watching. See [`Watcher::unwatch`] for more.
321    fn remove(&mut self, path: &Path) -> Result<()>;
322
323    /// Ensure added/removed paths are applied.
324    ///
325    /// The behaviour of dropping a [`PathsMut`] without calling [`commit`] is unspecified.
326    /// The implementation is free to ignore the changes or not, and may leave the watcher in a started or stopped state.
327    fn commit(self: Box<Self>) -> Result<()>;
328}
329
330/// Type that can deliver file activity notifications
331///
332/// `Watcher` is implemented per platform using the best implementation available on that platform.
333/// In addition to such event driven implementations, a polling implementation is also provided
334/// that should work on any platform.
335pub trait Watcher {
336    /// Create a new watcher with an initial Config.
337    fn new<F: EventHandler>(event_handler: F, config: config::Config) -> Result<Self>
338    where
339        Self: Sized;
340    /// Begin watching a new path.
341    ///
342    /// If the `path` is a directory, `watch_mode.recursive_mode` will be evaluated. If `watch_mode.recursive_mode` is
343    /// `RecursiveMode::Recursive` events will be delivered for all files in that tree. Otherwise
344    /// only the directory and its immediate children will be watched.
345    ///
346    /// If the `path` is a file, `watch_mode.recursive_mode` will be ignored and events will be delivered only
347    /// for the file.
348    fn watch(&mut self, path: &Path, watch_mode: WatchMode) -> Result<()>;
349
350    /// Stop watching a path.
351    ///
352    /// # Errors
353    ///
354    /// Returns an error in the case that `path` has not been watched or if removing the watch
355    /// fails.
356    fn unwatch(&mut self, path: &Path) -> Result<()>;
357
358    /// Add/remove paths to watch.
359    ///
360    /// For some watcher implementations this method provides better performance than multiple calls to [`Watcher::watch`] and [`Watcher::unwatch`] if you want to add/remove many paths at once.
361    ///
362    /// # Examples
363    ///
364    /// ```
365    /// # use notify::{Watcher, WatchMode, Result};
366    /// # use std::path::Path;
367    /// # fn main() -> Result<()> {
368    /// # let many_paths_to_add = vec![];
369    /// let mut watcher = notify::recommended_watcher(|_event| { /* event handler */ })?;
370    /// let mut watcher_paths = watcher.paths_mut();
371    /// for path in many_paths_to_add {
372    ///     watcher_paths.add(path, WatchMode::recursive())?;
373    /// }
374    /// watcher_paths.commit()?;
375    /// # Ok(())
376    /// # }
377    /// ```
378    fn paths_mut<'me>(&'me mut self) -> Box<dyn PathsMut + 'me> {
379        struct DefaultPathsMut<'a, T: ?Sized>(&'a mut T);
380        impl<T: Watcher + ?Sized> PathsMut for DefaultPathsMut<'_, T> {
381            fn add(&mut self, path: &Path, watch_mode: WatchMode) -> Result<()> {
382                self.0.watch(path, watch_mode)
383            }
384            fn remove(&mut self, path: &Path) -> Result<()> {
385                self.0.unwatch(path)
386            }
387            fn commit(self: Box<Self>) -> Result<()> {
388                Ok(())
389            }
390        }
391        Box::new(DefaultPathsMut(self))
392    }
393
394    /// Configure the watcher at runtime.
395    ///
396    /// See the [`Config`](config/struct.Config.html) struct for all configuration options.
397    ///
398    /// # Returns
399    ///
400    /// - `Ok(true)` on success.
401    /// - `Ok(false)` if the watcher does not support or implement the option.
402    /// - `Err(notify::Error)` on failure.
403    fn configure(&mut self, _option: Config) -> Result<bool> {
404        Ok(false)
405    }
406
407    /// Returns the watcher kind, allowing to perform backend-specific tasks
408    fn kind() -> WatcherKind
409    where
410        Self: Sized;
411
412    /// Get the list of watch handles that are currently being watched.
413    #[cfg(test)]
414    fn get_watch_handles(&self) -> HashSet<std::path::PathBuf> {
415        HashSet::default()
416    }
417}
418
419/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
420#[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "android"))]
421pub type RecommendedWatcher = INotifyWatcher;
422/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
423#[cfg(all(target_os = "macos", not(feature = "macos_kqueue")))]
424pub type RecommendedWatcher = FsEventWatcher;
425/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
426#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
427pub type RecommendedWatcher = ReadDirectoryChangesWatcher;
428/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
429#[cfg(any(
430    target_os = "freebsd",
431    target_os = "openbsd",
432    target_os = "netbsd",
433    target_os = "dragonfly",
434    target_os = "ios",
435    all(target_os = "macos", feature = "macos_kqueue")
436))]
437pub type RecommendedWatcher = KqueueWatcher;
438/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
439#[cfg(not(any(
440    target_os = "linux",
441    target_os = "android",
442    target_os = "macos",
443    target_os = "windows",
444    target_os = "freebsd",
445    target_os = "openbsd",
446    target_os = "netbsd",
447    target_os = "dragonfly",
448    target_os = "ios"
449)))]
450pub type RecommendedWatcher = PollWatcher;
451
452/// Convenience method for creating the [`RecommendedWatcher`] for the current platform.
453pub fn recommended_watcher<F>(event_handler: F) -> Result<RecommendedWatcher>
454where
455    F: EventHandler,
456{
457    // All recommended watchers currently implement `new`, so just call that.
458    RecommendedWatcher::new(event_handler, Config::default())
459}
460
461#[cfg(test)]
462mod tests {
463    use std::{
464        fs, iter,
465        sync::mpsc,
466        time::{Duration, Instant},
467    };
468
469    use super::{
470        Config, Error, ErrorKind, Event, NullWatcher, PollWatcher, RecommendedWatcher,
471        RecursiveMode, Result, Watcher, WatcherKind,
472    };
473    use crate::{config::WatchMode, test::*};
474
475    #[test]
476    fn test_object_safe() {
477        let _: &dyn Watcher = &NullWatcher;
478    }
479
480    #[test]
481    fn test_debug_impl() {
482        macro_rules! assert_debug_impl {
483            ($t:ty) => {{
484                #[expect(clippy::allow_attributes)]
485                #[allow(dead_code)]
486                trait NeedsDebug: std::fmt::Debug {}
487                impl NeedsDebug for $t {}
488            }};
489        }
490
491        assert_debug_impl!(Config);
492        assert_debug_impl!(Error);
493        assert_debug_impl!(ErrorKind);
494        assert_debug_impl!(NullWatcher);
495        assert_debug_impl!(PollWatcher);
496        assert_debug_impl!(RecommendedWatcher);
497        assert_debug_impl!(RecursiveMode);
498        assert_debug_impl!(WatcherKind);
499    }
500
501    fn iter_with_timeout(rx: &mpsc::Receiver<Result<Event>>) -> impl Iterator<Item = Event> + '_ {
502        // wait for up to 10 seconds for the events
503        let deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(10);
504        iter::from_fn(move || {
505            if Instant::now() >= deadline {
506                return None;
507            }
508            Some(
509                rx.recv_timeout(deadline - Instant::now())
510                    .expect("did not receive expected event")
511                    .expect("received an error"),
512            )
513        })
514    }
515
516    #[expect(clippy::print_stdout)]
517    #[test]
518    fn integration() -> std::result::Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
519        let dir = testdir();
520
521        // set up the watcher
522        let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
523        let mut watcher = RecommendedWatcher::new(tx, Config::default())?;
524        watcher.watch(dir.path(), WatchMode::recursive())?;
525
526        // create a new file
527        let file_path = dir.path().join("file.txt");
528        fs::write(&file_path, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
529
530        println!("waiting for event at {}", file_path.display());
531
532        // wait for the create event, ignore all other events
533        for event in iter_with_timeout(&rx) {
534            if event.paths == vec![file_path.clone()]
535                || event.paths == vec![file_path.canonicalize()?]
536            {
537                return Ok(());
538            }
539
540            println!("unexpected event: {event:?}");
541        }
542
543        panic!("did not receive expected event");
544    }
545
546    #[test]
547    fn test_paths_mut() -> std::result::Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
548        let dir = testdir();
549
550        let dir_a = dir.path().join("a");
551        let dir_b = dir.path().join("b");
552
553        fs::create_dir(&dir_a)?;
554        fs::create_dir(&dir_b)?;
555
556        let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
557        let mut watcher = RecommendedWatcher::new(tx, Config::default())?;
558
559        // start watching a and b
560        {
561            let mut watcher_paths = watcher.paths_mut();
562            watcher_paths.add(&dir_a, WatchMode::recursive())?;
563            watcher_paths.add(&dir_b, WatchMode::recursive())?;
564            watcher_paths.commit()?;
565        }
566
567        // create file1 in both a and b
568        let a_file1 = dir_a.join("file1");
569        let b_file1 = dir_b.join("file1");
570        fs::write(&a_file1, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
571        fs::write(&b_file1, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
572
573        // wait for create events of a/file1 and b/file1
574        let mut a_file1_encountered: bool = false;
575        let mut b_file1_encountered: bool = false;
576        for event in iter_with_timeout(&rx) {
577            for path in event.paths {
578                a_file1_encountered =
579                    a_file1_encountered || (path == a_file1 || path == a_file1.canonicalize()?);
580                b_file1_encountered =
581                    b_file1_encountered || (path == b_file1 || path == b_file1.canonicalize()?);
582            }
583            if a_file1_encountered && b_file1_encountered {
584                break;
585            }
586        }
587        assert!(a_file1_encountered, "Did not receive event of {a_file1:?}");
588        assert!(b_file1_encountered, "Did not receive event of {b_file1:?}");
589
590        // stop watching a
591        {
592            let mut watcher_paths = watcher.paths_mut();
593            watcher_paths.remove(&dir_a)?;
594            watcher_paths.commit()?;
595        }
596
597        // create file2 in both a and b
598        let a_file2 = dir_a.join("file2");
599        let b_file2 = dir_b.join("file2");
600        fs::write(&a_file2, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
601        fs::write(&b_file2, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
602
603        // wait for the create event of b/file2 only
604        for event in iter_with_timeout(&rx) {
605            for path in event.paths {
606                assert!(
607                    path != a_file2 || path != a_file2.canonicalize()?,
608                    "Event of {a_file2:?} should not be received"
609                );
610                if path == b_file2 || path == b_file2.canonicalize()? {
611                    return Ok(());
612                }
613            }
614        }
615        panic!("Did not receive the event of {b_file2:?}");
616    }
617
618    #[test]
619    fn create_file() {
620        let tmpdir = testdir();
621        let (mut watcher, rx) = recommended_channel();
622        watcher.watch_recursively(&tmpdir);
623
624        let path = tmpdir.path().join("entry");
625        std::fs::File::create_new(&path).expect("create");
626
627        rx.wait_unordered([expected(path).create()]);
628    }
629
630    #[test]
631    fn create_dir() {
632        let tmpdir = testdir();
633        let (mut watcher, rx) = recommended_channel();
634        watcher.watch_recursively(&tmpdir);
635
636        let path = tmpdir.path().join("entry");
637        std::fs::create_dir(&path).expect("create");
638
639        rx.wait_unordered([expected(path).create()]);
640    }
641
642    #[test]
643    fn modify_file() {
644        let tmpdir = testdir();
645        let (mut watcher, rx) = recommended_channel();
646
647        let path = tmpdir.path().join("entry");
648        std::fs::File::create_new(&path).expect("create");
649
650        watcher.watch_recursively(&tmpdir);
651        std::fs::write(&path, b"123").expect("write");
652
653        rx.wait_unordered([expected(path).modify()]);
654    }
655
656    #[test]
657    fn remove_file() {
658        let tmpdir = testdir();
659        let (mut watcher, rx) = recommended_channel();
660
661        let path = tmpdir.path().join("entry");
662        std::fs::File::create_new(&path).expect("create");
663
664        watcher.watch_recursively(&tmpdir);
665        std::fs::remove_file(&path).expect("remove");
666
667        rx.wait_unordered([expected(path).remove()]);
668    }
669}