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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, RecursiveMode, Result, 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("."), RecursiveMode::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::{RecursiveMode, Result, 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("."), RecursiveMode::Recursive)?;
155//! #     watcher2.watch(Path::new("."), RecursiveMode::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};
166pub use error::{Error, ErrorKind, Result};
167pub use notify_types::event::{self, Event, EventKind, EventKindMask};
168use std::path::Path;
169
170pub(crate) type Receiver<T> = std::sync::mpsc::Receiver<T>;
171pub(crate) type Sender<T> = std::sync::mpsc::Sender<T>;
172#[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "android", target_os = "windows"))]
173pub(crate) type BoundSender<T> = std::sync::mpsc::SyncSender<T>;
174
175#[inline]
176pub(crate) fn unbounded<T>() -> (Sender<T>, Receiver<T>) {
177    std::sync::mpsc::channel()
178}
179
180#[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "android", target_os = "windows"))]
181#[inline]
182pub(crate) fn bounded<T>(cap: usize) -> (BoundSender<T>, Receiver<T>) {
183    std::sync::mpsc::sync_channel(cap)
184}
185
186#[cfg(all(target_os = "macos", not(feature = "macos_kqueue")))]
187pub use crate::fsevent::FsEventWatcher;
188#[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "android"))]
189pub use crate::inotify::INotifyWatcher;
190#[cfg(any(
191    target_os = "freebsd",
192    target_os = "openbsd",
193    target_os = "netbsd",
194    target_os = "dragonfly",
195    target_os = "ios",
196    all(target_os = "macos", feature = "macos_kqueue")
197))]
198pub use crate::kqueue::KqueueWatcher;
199pub use null::NullWatcher;
200pub use poll::PollWatcher;
201#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
202pub use windows::ReadDirectoryChangesWatcher;
203
204#[cfg(all(target_os = "macos", not(feature = "macos_kqueue")))]
205pub mod fsevent;
206#[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "android"))]
207pub mod inotify;
208#[cfg(any(
209    target_os = "freebsd",
210    target_os = "openbsd",
211    target_os = "dragonfly",
212    target_os = "netbsd",
213    target_os = "ios",
214    all(target_os = "macos", feature = "macos_kqueue")
215))]
216pub mod kqueue;
217#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
218pub mod windows;
219
220pub mod null;
221pub mod poll;
222
223mod config;
224mod error;
225
226#[cfg(test)]
227pub(crate) mod test;
228
229/// The set of requirements for watcher event handling functions.
230///
231/// # Example implementation
232///
233/// ```no_run
234/// use notify::{Event, Result, EventHandler};
235///
236/// /// Prints received events
237/// struct EventPrinter;
238///
239/// impl EventHandler for EventPrinter {
240///     fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
241///         if let Ok(event) = event {
242///             println!("Event: {:?}", event);
243///         }
244///     }
245/// }
246/// ```
247pub trait EventHandler: Send + 'static {
248    /// Handles an event.
249    fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>);
250}
251
252impl<F> EventHandler for F
253where
254    F: FnMut(Result<Event>) + Send + 'static,
255{
256    fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
257        (self)(event);
258    }
259}
260
261#[cfg(feature = "crossbeam-channel")]
262impl EventHandler for crossbeam_channel::Sender<Result<Event>> {
263    fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
264        let _ = self.send(event);
265    }
266}
267
268#[cfg(feature = "flume")]
269impl EventHandler for flume::Sender<Result<Event>> {
270    fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
271        let _ = self.send(event);
272    }
273}
274
275impl EventHandler for std::sync::mpsc::Sender<Result<Event>> {
276    fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
277        let _ = self.send(event);
278    }
279}
280
281/// Watcher kind enumeration
282#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
283#[non_exhaustive]
284pub enum WatcherKind {
285    /// inotify backend (linux)
286    Inotify,
287    /// FS-Event backend (mac)
288    Fsevent,
289    /// KQueue backend (bsd,optionally mac)
290    Kqueue,
291    /// Polling based backend (fallback)
292    PollWatcher,
293    /// Windows backend
294    ReadDirectoryChangesWatcher,
295    /// Fake watcher for testing
296    NullWatcher,
297}
298
299/// Providing methods for adding and removing paths to watch.
300///
301/// `Box<dyn PathsMut>` is created by [`Watcher::paths_mut`]. See its documentation for more.
302pub trait PathsMut {
303    /// Add a new path to watch. See [`Watcher::watch`] for more.
304    fn add(&mut self, path: &Path, recursive_mode: RecursiveMode) -> Result<()>;
305
306    /// Remove a path from watching. See [`Watcher::unwatch`] for more.
307    fn remove(&mut self, path: &Path) -> Result<()>;
308
309    /// Ensure added/removed paths are applied.
310    ///
311    /// The behaviour of dropping a [`PathsMut`] without calling [`commit`] is unspecified.
312    /// The implementation is free to ignore the changes or not, and may leave the watcher in a started or stopped state.
313    fn commit(self: Box<Self>) -> Result<()>;
314}
315
316/// Type that can deliver file activity notifications
317///
318/// `Watcher` is implemented per platform using the best implementation available on that platform.
319/// In addition to such event driven implementations, a polling implementation is also provided
320/// that should work on any platform.
321pub trait Watcher {
322    /// Create a new watcher with an initial Config.
323    fn new<F: EventHandler>(event_handler: F, config: config::Config) -> Result<Self>
324    where
325        Self: Sized;
326    /// Begin watching a new path.
327    ///
328    /// If the `path` is a directory, `recursive_mode` will be evaluated. If `recursive_mode` is
329    /// `RecursiveMode::Recursive` events will be delivered for all files in that tree. Otherwise
330    /// only the directory and its immediate children will be watched.
331    ///
332    /// If the `path` is a file, `recursive_mode` will be ignored and events will be delivered only
333    /// for the file.
334    ///
335    /// On some platforms, if the `path` is renamed or removed while being watched, behaviour may
336    /// be unexpected. See discussions in [#165] and [#166]. If less surprising behaviour is wanted
337    /// one may non-recursively watch the _parent_ directory as well and manage related events.
338    ///
339    /// [#165]: https://github.com/notify-rs/notify/issues/165
340    /// [#166]: https://github.com/notify-rs/notify/issues/166
341    fn watch(&mut self, path: &Path, recursive_mode: RecursiveMode) -> Result<()>;
342
343    /// Stop watching a path.
344    ///
345    /// # Errors
346    ///
347    /// Returns an error in the case that `path` has not been watched or if removing the watch
348    /// fails.
349    fn unwatch(&mut self, path: &Path) -> Result<()>;
350
351    /// Add/remove paths to watch.
352    ///
353    /// 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.
354    ///
355    /// # Examples
356    ///
357    /// ```
358    /// # use notify::{Watcher, RecursiveMode, Result};
359    /// # use std::path::Path;
360    /// # fn main() -> Result<()> {
361    /// # let many_paths_to_add = vec![];
362    /// let mut watcher = notify::recommended_watcher(|_event| { /* event handler */ })?;
363    /// let mut watcher_paths = watcher.paths_mut();
364    /// for path in many_paths_to_add {
365    ///     watcher_paths.add(path, RecursiveMode::Recursive)?;
366    /// }
367    /// watcher_paths.commit()?;
368    /// # Ok(())
369    /// # }
370    /// ```
371    fn paths_mut<'me>(&'me mut self) -> Box<dyn PathsMut + 'me> {
372        struct DefaultPathsMut<'a, T: ?Sized>(&'a mut T);
373        impl<T: Watcher + ?Sized> PathsMut for DefaultPathsMut<'_, T> {
374            fn add(&mut self, path: &Path, recursive_mode: RecursiveMode) -> Result<()> {
375                self.0.watch(path, recursive_mode)
376            }
377            fn remove(&mut self, path: &Path) -> Result<()> {
378                self.0.unwatch(path)
379            }
380            fn commit(self: Box<Self>) -> Result<()> {
381                Ok(())
382            }
383        }
384        Box::new(DefaultPathsMut(self))
385    }
386
387    /// Configure the watcher at runtime.
388    ///
389    /// See the [`Config`](config/struct.Config.html) struct for all configuration options.
390    ///
391    /// # Returns
392    ///
393    /// - `Ok(true)` on success.
394    /// - `Ok(false)` if the watcher does not support or implement the option.
395    /// - `Err(notify::Error)` on failure.
396    fn configure(&mut self, _option: Config) -> Result<bool> {
397        Ok(false)
398    }
399
400    /// Returns the watcher kind, allowing to perform backend-specific tasks
401    fn kind() -> WatcherKind
402    where
403        Self: Sized;
404}
405
406/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
407#[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "android"))]
408pub type RecommendedWatcher = INotifyWatcher;
409/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
410#[cfg(all(target_os = "macos", not(feature = "macos_kqueue")))]
411pub type RecommendedWatcher = FsEventWatcher;
412/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
413#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
414pub type RecommendedWatcher = ReadDirectoryChangesWatcher;
415/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
416#[cfg(any(
417    target_os = "freebsd",
418    target_os = "openbsd",
419    target_os = "netbsd",
420    target_os = "dragonfly",
421    target_os = "ios",
422    all(target_os = "macos", feature = "macos_kqueue")
423))]
424pub type RecommendedWatcher = KqueueWatcher;
425/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
426#[cfg(not(any(
427    target_os = "linux",
428    target_os = "android",
429    target_os = "macos",
430    target_os = "windows",
431    target_os = "freebsd",
432    target_os = "openbsd",
433    target_os = "netbsd",
434    target_os = "dragonfly",
435    target_os = "ios"
436)))]
437pub type RecommendedWatcher = PollWatcher;
438
439/// Convenience method for creating the [`RecommendedWatcher`] for the current platform.
440pub fn recommended_watcher<F>(event_handler: F) -> Result<RecommendedWatcher>
441where
442    F: EventHandler,
443{
444    // All recommended watchers currently implement `new`, so just call that.
445    RecommendedWatcher::new(event_handler, Config::default())
446}
447
448#[cfg(test)]
449mod tests {
450    use std::{
451        fs, iter,
452        sync::mpsc,
453        time::{Duration, Instant},
454    };
455
456    use tempfile::tempdir;
457
458    use super::{
459        Config, Error, ErrorKind, Event, NullWatcher, PollWatcher, RecommendedWatcher,
460        RecursiveMode, Result, Watcher, WatcherKind,
461    };
462    use crate::test::*;
463
464    #[test]
465    fn test_object_safe() {
466        let _watcher: &dyn Watcher = &NullWatcher;
467    }
468
469    #[test]
470    fn test_debug_impl() {
471        macro_rules! assert_debug_impl {
472            ($t:ty) => {{
473                #[allow(dead_code)]
474                trait NeedsDebug: std::fmt::Debug {}
475                impl NeedsDebug for $t {}
476            }};
477        }
478
479        assert_debug_impl!(Config);
480        assert_debug_impl!(Error);
481        assert_debug_impl!(ErrorKind);
482        assert_debug_impl!(NullWatcher);
483        assert_debug_impl!(PollWatcher);
484        assert_debug_impl!(RecommendedWatcher);
485        assert_debug_impl!(RecursiveMode);
486        assert_debug_impl!(WatcherKind);
487    }
488
489    fn iter_with_timeout(rx: &mpsc::Receiver<Result<Event>>) -> impl Iterator<Item = Event> + '_ {
490        // wait for up to 10 seconds for the events
491        let deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(10);
492        iter::from_fn(move || {
493            if Instant::now() >= deadline {
494                return None;
495            }
496            Some(
497                rx.recv_timeout(deadline - Instant::now())
498                    .expect("did not receive expected event")
499                    .expect("received an error"),
500            )
501        })
502    }
503
504    #[test]
505    fn integration() -> std::result::Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
506        let dir = tempdir()?;
507
508        // set up the watcher
509        let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
510        let mut watcher = RecommendedWatcher::new(tx, Config::default())?;
511        watcher.watch(dir.path(), RecursiveMode::Recursive)?;
512
513        // create a new file
514        let file_path = dir.path().join("file.txt");
515        fs::write(&file_path, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
516
517        println!("waiting for event at {}", file_path.display());
518
519        // wait for the create event, ignore all other events
520        for event in iter_with_timeout(&rx) {
521            if event.paths == vec![file_path.clone()]
522                || event.paths == vec![file_path.canonicalize()?]
523            {
524                return Ok(());
525            }
526
527            println!("unexpected event: {event:?}");
528        }
529
530        panic!("did not receive expected event");
531    }
532
533    #[test]
534    fn test_paths_mut() -> std::result::Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
535        let dir = tempdir()?;
536
537        let dir_a = dir.path().join("a");
538        let dir_b = dir.path().join("b");
539
540        fs::create_dir(&dir_a)?;
541        fs::create_dir(&dir_b)?;
542
543        let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
544        let mut watcher = RecommendedWatcher::new(tx, Config::default())?;
545
546        // start watching a and b
547        {
548            let mut watcher_paths = watcher.paths_mut();
549            watcher_paths.add(&dir_a, RecursiveMode::Recursive)?;
550            watcher_paths.add(&dir_b, RecursiveMode::Recursive)?;
551            watcher_paths.commit()?;
552        }
553
554        // create file1 in both a and b
555        let a_file1 = dir_a.join("file1");
556        let b_file1 = dir_b.join("file1");
557        fs::write(&a_file1, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
558        fs::write(&b_file1, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
559
560        // wait for create events of a/file1 and b/file1
561        let mut a_file1_encountered: bool = false;
562        let mut b_file1_encountered: bool = false;
563        for event in iter_with_timeout(&rx) {
564            for path in event.paths {
565                a_file1_encountered =
566                    a_file1_encountered || (path == a_file1 || path == a_file1.canonicalize()?);
567                b_file1_encountered =
568                    b_file1_encountered || (path == b_file1 || path == b_file1.canonicalize()?);
569            }
570            if a_file1_encountered && b_file1_encountered {
571                break;
572            }
573        }
574        assert!(a_file1_encountered, "Did not receive event of {a_file1:?}");
575        assert!(b_file1_encountered, "Did not receive event of {b_file1:?}");
576
577        // stop watching a
578        {
579            let mut watcher_paths = watcher.paths_mut();
580            watcher_paths.remove(&dir_a)?;
581            watcher_paths.commit()?;
582        }
583
584        // create file2 in both a and b
585        let a_file2 = dir_a.join("file2");
586        let b_file2 = dir_b.join("file2");
587        fs::write(&a_file2, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
588        fs::write(&b_file2, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
589
590        // wait for the create event of b/file2 only
591        for event in iter_with_timeout(&rx) {
592            for path in event.paths {
593                assert!(
594                    path != a_file2 || path != a_file2.canonicalize()?,
595                    "Event of {a_file2:?} should not be received"
596                );
597                if path == b_file2 || path == b_file2.canonicalize()? {
598                    return Ok(());
599                }
600            }
601        }
602        panic!("Did not receive the event of {b_file2:?}");
603    }
604
605    #[test]
606    fn create_file() {
607        let tmpdir = testdir();
608        let (mut watcher, mut rx) = recommended_channel();
609        watcher.watch_recursively(&tmpdir);
610
611        let path = tmpdir.path().join("entry");
612        std::fs::File::create_new(&path).expect("create");
613
614        rx.wait_unordered([expected(path).create()]);
615    }
616
617    #[test]
618    fn create_dir() {
619        let tmpdir = testdir();
620        let (mut watcher, mut rx) = recommended_channel();
621        watcher.watch_recursively(&tmpdir);
622
623        let path = tmpdir.path().join("entry");
624        std::fs::create_dir(&path).expect("create");
625
626        rx.wait_unordered([expected(path).create()]);
627    }
628
629    #[test]
630    fn modify_file() {
631        let tmpdir = testdir();
632        let (mut watcher, mut rx) = recommended_channel();
633
634        let path = tmpdir.path().join("entry");
635        std::fs::File::create_new(&path).expect("create");
636
637        watcher.watch_recursively(&tmpdir);
638        std::fs::write(&path, b"123").expect("write");
639
640        rx.wait_unordered([expected(path).modify()]);
641    }
642
643    #[test]
644    fn remove_file() {
645        let tmpdir = testdir();
646        let (mut watcher, mut rx) = recommended_channel();
647
648        let path = tmpdir.path().join("entry");
649        std::fs::File::create_new(&path).expect("create");
650
651        watcher.watch_recursively(&tmpdir);
652        std::fs::remove_file(&path).expect("remove");
653
654        rx.wait_unordered([expected(path).remove()]);
655    }
656}