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 error;
238
239#[cfg(test)]
240pub(crate) mod test;
241
242/// The set of requirements for watcher event handling functions.
243///
244/// # Example implementation
245///
246/// ```no_run
247/// use notify::{Event, Result, EventHandler};
248///
249/// /// Prints received events
250/// struct EventPrinter;
251///
252/// impl EventHandler for EventPrinter {
253/// fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
254/// if let Ok(event) = event {
255/// println!("Event: {:?}", event);
256/// }
257/// }
258/// }
259/// ```
260pub trait EventHandler: Send + 'static {
261 /// Handles an event.
262 fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>);
263}
264
265impl<F> EventHandler for F
266where
267 F: FnMut(Result<Event>) + Send + 'static,
268{
269 fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
270 (self)(event);
271 }
272}
273
274#[cfg(feature = "crossbeam-channel")]
275impl EventHandler for crossbeam_channel::Sender<Result<Event>> {
276 fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
277 let _ = self.send(event);
278 }
279}
280
281#[cfg(feature = "flume")]
282impl EventHandler for flume::Sender<Result<Event>> {
283 fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
284 let _ = self.send(event);
285 }
286}
287
288impl EventHandler for std::sync::mpsc::Sender<Result<Event>> {
289 fn handle_event(&mut self, event: Result<Event>) {
290 let _ = self.send(event);
291 }
292}
293
294/// Watcher kind enumeration
295#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
296#[non_exhaustive]
297pub enum WatcherKind {
298 /// inotify backend (linux)
299 Inotify,
300 /// FS-Event backend (mac)
301 Fsevent,
302 /// KQueue backend (bsd,optionally mac)
303 Kqueue,
304 /// Polling based backend (fallback)
305 PollWatcher,
306 /// Windows backend
307 ReadDirectoryChangesWatcher,
308 /// Fake watcher for testing
309 NullWatcher,
310}
311
312/// Providing methods for adding and removing paths to watch.
313///
314/// `Box<dyn PathsMut>` is created by [`Watcher::paths_mut`]. See its documentation for more.
315pub trait PathsMut {
316 /// Add a new path to watch. See [`Watcher::watch`] for more.
317 fn add(&mut self, path: &Path, watch_mode: WatchMode) -> Result<()>;
318
319 /// Remove a path from watching. See [`Watcher::unwatch`] for more.
320 fn remove(&mut self, path: &Path) -> Result<()>;
321
322 /// Ensure added/removed paths are applied.
323 ///
324 /// The behaviour of dropping a [`PathsMut`] without calling [`commit`] is unspecified.
325 /// The implementation is free to ignore the changes or not, and may leave the watcher in a started or stopped state.
326 fn commit(self: Box<Self>) -> Result<()>;
327}
328
329/// Type that can deliver file activity notifications
330///
331/// `Watcher` is implemented per platform using the best implementation available on that platform.
332/// In addition to such event driven implementations, a polling implementation is also provided
333/// that should work on any platform.
334pub trait Watcher {
335 /// Create a new watcher with an initial Config.
336 fn new<F: EventHandler>(event_handler: F, config: config::Config) -> Result<Self>
337 where
338 Self: Sized;
339 /// Begin watching a new path.
340 ///
341 /// If the `path` is a directory, `watch_mode.recursive_mode` will be evaluated. If `watch_mode.recursive_mode` is
342 /// `RecursiveMode::Recursive` events will be delivered for all files in that tree. Otherwise
343 /// only the directory and its immediate children will be watched.
344 ///
345 /// If the `path` is a file, `watch_mode.recursive_mode` will be ignored and events will be delivered only
346 /// for the file.
347 fn watch(&mut self, path: &Path, watch_mode: WatchMode) -> Result<()>;
348
349 /// Stop watching a path.
350 ///
351 /// # Errors
352 ///
353 /// Returns an error in the case that `path` has not been watched or if removing the watch
354 /// fails.
355 fn unwatch(&mut self, path: &Path) -> Result<()>;
356
357 /// Add/remove paths to watch.
358 ///
359 /// 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.
360 ///
361 /// # Examples
362 ///
363 /// ```
364 /// # use notify::{Watcher, WatchMode, Result};
365 /// # use std::path::Path;
366 /// # fn main() -> Result<()> {
367 /// # let many_paths_to_add = vec![];
368 /// let mut watcher = notify::recommended_watcher(|_event| { /* event handler */ })?;
369 /// let mut watcher_paths = watcher.paths_mut();
370 /// for path in many_paths_to_add {
371 /// watcher_paths.add(path, WatchMode::recursive())?;
372 /// }
373 /// watcher_paths.commit()?;
374 /// # Ok(())
375 /// # }
376 /// ```
377 fn paths_mut<'me>(&'me mut self) -> Box<dyn PathsMut + 'me> {
378 struct DefaultPathsMut<'a, T: ?Sized>(&'a mut T);
379 impl<T: Watcher + ?Sized> PathsMut for DefaultPathsMut<'_, T> {
380 fn add(&mut self, path: &Path, watch_mode: WatchMode) -> Result<()> {
381 self.0.watch(path, watch_mode)
382 }
383 fn remove(&mut self, path: &Path) -> Result<()> {
384 self.0.unwatch(path)
385 }
386 fn commit(self: Box<Self>) -> Result<()> {
387 Ok(())
388 }
389 }
390 Box::new(DefaultPathsMut(self))
391 }
392
393 /// Configure the watcher at runtime.
394 ///
395 /// See the [`Config`](config/struct.Config.html) struct for all configuration options.
396 ///
397 /// # Returns
398 ///
399 /// - `Ok(true)` on success.
400 /// - `Ok(false)` if the watcher does not support or implement the option.
401 /// - `Err(notify::Error)` on failure.
402 fn configure(&mut self, _option: Config) -> Result<bool> {
403 Ok(false)
404 }
405
406 /// Returns the watcher kind, allowing to perform backend-specific tasks
407 fn kind() -> WatcherKind
408 where
409 Self: Sized;
410
411 /// Get the list of watch handles that are currently being watched.
412 #[cfg(test)]
413 fn get_watch_handles(&self) -> HashSet<std::path::PathBuf> {
414 HashSet::default()
415 }
416}
417
418/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
419#[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "android"))]
420pub type RecommendedWatcher = INotifyWatcher;
421/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
422#[cfg(all(target_os = "macos", not(feature = "macos_kqueue")))]
423pub type RecommendedWatcher = FsEventWatcher;
424/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
425#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
426pub type RecommendedWatcher = ReadDirectoryChangesWatcher;
427/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
428#[cfg(any(
429 target_os = "freebsd",
430 target_os = "openbsd",
431 target_os = "netbsd",
432 target_os = "dragonfly",
433 target_os = "ios",
434 all(target_os = "macos", feature = "macos_kqueue")
435))]
436pub type RecommendedWatcher = KqueueWatcher;
437/// The recommended [`Watcher`] implementation for the current platform
438#[cfg(not(any(
439 target_os = "linux",
440 target_os = "android",
441 target_os = "macos",
442 target_os = "windows",
443 target_os = "freebsd",
444 target_os = "openbsd",
445 target_os = "netbsd",
446 target_os = "dragonfly",
447 target_os = "ios"
448)))]
449pub type RecommendedWatcher = PollWatcher;
450
451/// Convenience method for creating the [`RecommendedWatcher`] for the current platform.
452pub fn recommended_watcher<F>(event_handler: F) -> Result<RecommendedWatcher>
453where
454 F: EventHandler,
455{
456 // All recommended watchers currently implement `new`, so just call that.
457 RecommendedWatcher::new(event_handler, Config::default())
458}
459
460#[cfg(test)]
461mod tests {
462 use std::{
463 fs, iter,
464 sync::mpsc,
465 time::{Duration, Instant},
466 };
467
468 use tempfile::tempdir;
469
470 use super::{
471 Config, Error, ErrorKind, Event, NullWatcher, PollWatcher, RecommendedWatcher,
472 RecursiveMode, Result, Watcher, WatcherKind,
473 };
474 use crate::{config::WatchMode, test::*};
475
476 #[test]
477 fn test_object_safe() {
478 let _: &dyn Watcher = &NullWatcher;
479 }
480
481 #[test]
482 fn test_debug_impl() {
483 macro_rules! assert_debug_impl {
484 ($t:ty) => {{
485 #[expect(clippy::allow_attributes)]
486 #[allow(dead_code)]
487 trait NeedsDebug: std::fmt::Debug {}
488 impl NeedsDebug for $t {}
489 }};
490 }
491
492 assert_debug_impl!(Config);
493 assert_debug_impl!(Error);
494 assert_debug_impl!(ErrorKind);
495 assert_debug_impl!(NullWatcher);
496 assert_debug_impl!(PollWatcher);
497 assert_debug_impl!(RecommendedWatcher);
498 assert_debug_impl!(RecursiveMode);
499 assert_debug_impl!(WatcherKind);
500 }
501
502 fn iter_with_timeout(rx: &mpsc::Receiver<Result<Event>>) -> impl Iterator<Item = Event> + '_ {
503 // wait for up to 10 seconds for the events
504 let deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(10);
505 iter::from_fn(move || {
506 if Instant::now() >= deadline {
507 return None;
508 }
509 Some(
510 rx.recv_timeout(deadline - Instant::now())
511 .expect("did not receive expected event")
512 .expect("received an error"),
513 )
514 })
515 }
516
517 #[expect(clippy::print_stdout)]
518 #[test]
519 fn integration() -> std::result::Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
520 let dir = tempdir()?;
521
522 // set up the watcher
523 let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
524 let mut watcher = RecommendedWatcher::new(tx, Config::default())?;
525 watcher.watch(dir.path(), WatchMode::recursive())?;
526
527 // create a new file
528 let file_path = dir.path().join("file.txt");
529 fs::write(&file_path, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
530
531 println!("waiting for event at {}", file_path.display());
532
533 // wait for the create event, ignore all other events
534 for event in iter_with_timeout(&rx) {
535 if event.paths == vec![file_path.clone()]
536 || event.paths == vec![file_path.canonicalize()?]
537 {
538 return Ok(());
539 }
540
541 println!("unexpected event: {event:?}");
542 }
543
544 panic!("did not receive expected event");
545 }
546
547 #[test]
548 fn test_paths_mut() -> std::result::Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
549 let dir = tempdir()?;
550
551 let dir_a = dir.path().join("a");
552 let dir_b = dir.path().join("b");
553
554 fs::create_dir(&dir_a)?;
555 fs::create_dir(&dir_b)?;
556
557 let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
558 let mut watcher = RecommendedWatcher::new(tx, Config::default())?;
559
560 // start watching a and b
561 {
562 let mut watcher_paths = watcher.paths_mut();
563 watcher_paths.add(&dir_a, WatchMode::recursive())?;
564 watcher_paths.add(&dir_b, WatchMode::recursive())?;
565 watcher_paths.commit()?;
566 }
567
568 // create file1 in both a and b
569 let a_file1 = dir_a.join("file1");
570 let b_file1 = dir_b.join("file1");
571 fs::write(&a_file1, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
572 fs::write(&b_file1, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
573
574 // wait for create events of a/file1 and b/file1
575 let mut a_file1_encountered: bool = false;
576 let mut b_file1_encountered: bool = false;
577 for event in iter_with_timeout(&rx) {
578 for path in event.paths {
579 a_file1_encountered =
580 a_file1_encountered || (path == a_file1 || path == a_file1.canonicalize()?);
581 b_file1_encountered =
582 b_file1_encountered || (path == b_file1 || path == b_file1.canonicalize()?);
583 }
584 if a_file1_encountered && b_file1_encountered {
585 break;
586 }
587 }
588 assert!(a_file1_encountered, "Did not receive event of {a_file1:?}");
589 assert!(b_file1_encountered, "Did not receive event of {b_file1:?}");
590
591 // stop watching a
592 {
593 let mut watcher_paths = watcher.paths_mut();
594 watcher_paths.remove(&dir_a)?;
595 watcher_paths.commit()?;
596 }
597
598 // create file2 in both a and b
599 let a_file2 = dir_a.join("file2");
600 let b_file2 = dir_b.join("file2");
601 fs::write(&a_file2, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
602 fs::write(&b_file2, b"Lorem ipsum")?;
603
604 // wait for the create event of b/file2 only
605 for event in iter_with_timeout(&rx) {
606 for path in event.paths {
607 assert!(
608 path != a_file2 || path != a_file2.canonicalize()?,
609 "Event of {a_file2:?} should not be received"
610 );
611 if path == b_file2 || path == b_file2.canonicalize()? {
612 return Ok(());
613 }
614 }
615 }
616 panic!("Did not receive the event of {b_file2:?}");
617 }
618
619 #[test]
620 fn create_file() {
621 let tmpdir = testdir();
622 let (mut watcher, rx) = recommended_channel();
623 watcher.watch_recursively(&tmpdir);
624
625 let path = tmpdir.path().join("entry");
626 std::fs::File::create_new(&path).expect("create");
627
628 rx.wait_unordered([expected(path).create()]);
629 }
630
631 #[test]
632 fn create_dir() {
633 let tmpdir = testdir();
634 let (mut watcher, rx) = recommended_channel();
635 watcher.watch_recursively(&tmpdir);
636
637 let path = tmpdir.path().join("entry");
638 std::fs::create_dir(&path).expect("create");
639
640 rx.wait_unordered([expected(path).create()]);
641 }
642
643 #[test]
644 fn modify_file() {
645 let tmpdir = testdir();
646 let (mut watcher, 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::write(&path, b"123").expect("write");
653
654 rx.wait_unordered([expected(path).modify()]);
655 }
656
657 #[test]
658 fn remove_file() {
659 let tmpdir = testdir();
660 let (mut watcher, rx) = recommended_channel();
661
662 let path = tmpdir.path().join("entry");
663 std::fs::File::create_new(&path).expect("create");
664
665 watcher.watch_recursively(&tmpdir);
666 std::fs::remove_file(&path).expect("remove");
667
668 rx.wait_unordered([expected(path).remove()]);
669 }
670}