rwatch

A modern, cross-platform Rust alternative to watch, with color, diff, and more.

Features

• Periodically runs a command and displays its output fullscreen
• Highlights differences between runs (with -d/--differences)
• Optionally keeps all changes since first run (-d=permanent)
• Supports ANSI color output (-c/--color)
• Beeps on command failure (-b/--beep)
• Exits on error, output change, or unchanged output for N cycles
• Customizable interval (via -n, --interval, or WATCH_INTERVAL env)
• No-title, no-wrap, and direct exec modes

Usage

rwatch [OPTIONS] -- command [args...]

Common Options

• -n, --interval <seconds>: Set update interval (default: 2, or $WATCH_INTERVAL)
• -d, --differences[=permanent]: Highlight output differences; keep all changes with =permanent
• -c, --color: Show ANSI color sequences
• -b, --beep: Beep if command exits non-zero
• -e, --errexit: Freeze on error and exit after key press
• -g, --chgexit: Exit when output changes
• -q, --equexit <cycles>: Exit when output does not change for N cycles
• -t, --no-title: Hide header
• -w, --no-wrap: Disable line wrapping
• -x, --exec: Pass command directly (no shell)

Examples

• Watch a directory listing, highlighting changes:

  rwatch -d -- ls -l
  
  

• Run a command every 5 seconds:

  rwatch -n 5 -- date
  
  

• Watch a command, beep on error:

  rwatch -b -- make test
  
  

• Use a custom interval from the environment:

  WATCH_INTERVAL=10 rwatch -- git status
  
  

Installation

Install from crates.io

If you have Rust and Cargo installed, you can install the latest published version directly:

cargo install rwatch

Build from source

Clone the repository and install using Cargo:

git clone https://github.com/davidhfrankelcodes/rwatch.git

cd rwatch

cargo install --path .

License

MIT