mirror of
https://github.com/watchexec/watchexec.git
synced 2024-11-16 17:18:30 +01:00
145 lines
4.9 KiB
Markdown
145 lines
4.9 KiB
Markdown
# Watchexec CLI
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
* Runs on Linux, Mac, Windows, and more
|
|
* Monitors current directory and all subdirectories for changes
|
|
* Uses efficient event polling mechanism (on Linux, Mac, Windows, BSD)
|
|
* Coalesces multiple filesystem events into one, for editors that use swap/backup files during saving
|
|
* By default, uses `.gitignore`, `.ignore`, and other such files to determine which files to ignore notifications for
|
|
* Support for watching files with a specific extension
|
|
* Support for filtering/ignoring events based on [glob patterns](https://docs.rs/globset/*/globset/#syntax)
|
|
* Launches the command in a new process group (can be disabled with `--no-process-group`)
|
|
* Optionally clears screen between executions
|
|
* Optionally restarts the command with every modification (good for servers)
|
|
* Optionally sends a desktop notification on command start and end
|
|
* Does not require a language runtime
|
|
* Sets the following environment variables in the process:
|
|
|
|
`$WATCHEXEC_COMMON_PATH` is set to the longest common path of all of the below variables, and so should be prepended to each path to obtain the full/real path.
|
|
|
|
| Variable name | Event kind |
|
|
|---|---|
|
|
| `$WATCHEXEC_CREATED_PATH` | files/folders were created |
|
|
| `$WATCHEXEC_REMOVED_PATH` | files/folders were removed |
|
|
| `$WATCHEXEC_RENAMED_PATH` | files/folders were renamed |
|
|
| `$WATCHEXEC_WRITTEN_PATH` | files/folders were modified |
|
|
| `$WATCHEXEC_META_CHANGED_PATH` | files/folders' metadata were modified |
|
|
| `$WATCHEXEC_OTHERWISE_CHANGED_PATH` | every other kind of event |
|
|
|
|
This can be disabled or limited with `--no-environment` (doesn't set any of these variables) and `--no-meta` (ignores metadata changes).
|
|
|
|
## Anti-Features
|
|
|
|
* Not tied to any particular language or ecosystem
|
|
* Not tied to Git or the presence of a repository/project
|
|
* Does not require a cryptic command line involving `xargs`
|
|
|
|
## Usage Examples
|
|
|
|
Watch all JavaScript, CSS and HTML files in the current directory and all subdirectories for changes, running `make` when a change is detected:
|
|
|
|
$ watchexec --exts js,css,html make
|
|
|
|
Call `make test` when any file changes in this directory/subdirectory, except for everything below `target`:
|
|
|
|
$ watchexec -i target make test
|
|
|
|
Call `ls -la` when any file changes in this directory/subdirectory:
|
|
|
|
$ watchexec -- ls -la
|
|
|
|
Call/restart `python server.py` when any Python file in the current directory (and all subdirectories) changes:
|
|
|
|
$ watchexec -e py -r python server.py
|
|
|
|
Call/restart `my_server` when any file in the current directory (and all subdirectories) changes, sending `SIGKILL` to stop the command:
|
|
|
|
$ watchexec -r -s SIGKILL my_server
|
|
|
|
Send a SIGHUP to the command upon changes (Note: using `-n` here we're executing `my_server` directly, instead of wrapping it in a shell:
|
|
|
|
$ watchexec -n -s SIGHUP my_server
|
|
|
|
Run `make` when any file changes, using the `.gitignore` file in the current directory to filter:
|
|
|
|
$ watchexec make
|
|
|
|
Run `make` when any file in `lib` or `src` changes:
|
|
|
|
$ watchexec -w lib -w src make
|
|
|
|
Run `bundle install` when the `Gemfile` changes:
|
|
|
|
$ watchexec -w Gemfile bundle install
|
|
|
|
Run two commands:
|
|
|
|
$ watchexec 'date; make'
|
|
|
|
If you come from `entr`, note that the watchexec command is run in a shell by default. You can use `-n` or `--shell=none` to not do that:
|
|
|
|
$ watchexec -n -- echo ';' lorem ipsum
|
|
|
|
On Windows, you may prefer to use Powershell:
|
|
|
|
$ watchexec --shell=powershell -- test-connection localhost
|
|
|
|
## Installation
|
|
|
|
### First-party
|
|
|
|
#### Pre-built
|
|
|
|
Use the download section on **[the website](https://watchexec.github.io/downloads/)** to obtain the
|
|
package appropriate for your platform and architecture, extract it, and place it in your `PATH`.
|
|
|
|
There are also Debian/Ubuntu (DEB) and Fedora/RedHat (RPM) packages.
|
|
|
|
Checksums and signatures are available.
|
|
|
|
#### Cargo (from source)
|
|
|
|
Requires Rust 1.58.0 or later.
|
|
|
|
$ cargo install watchexec-cli
|
|
|
|
#### [Binstall](https://github.com/ryankurte/cargo-binstall)
|
|
|
|
$ cargo binstall watchexec-cli
|
|
|
|
### Third-party
|
|
|
|
These are provided by third parties, caveat emptor!
|
|
|
|
#### macOS
|
|
|
|
- Homebrew: `$ brew install watchexec`
|
|
- Nix/NixOS: `$ nix-env -iA nixpkgs.watchexec`
|
|
- Webi: `$ curl -sS https://webinstall.dev/watchexec | bash`
|
|
|
|
#### Linux
|
|
|
|
- ArchLinux: `$ pacman -S watchexec`
|
|
- Nix/NixOS: `$ nix-env -iA nixpkgs.watchexec`
|
|
- Webi: `$ curl -sS https://webinstall.dev/watchexec | bash`
|
|
|
|
#### Windows
|
|
|
|
- Scoop: `#> scoop install watchexec`
|
|
- Chocolatey: `#> choco install watchexec`
|
|
- Webi: `#> curl.exe -A MS https://webinstall.dev/watchexec | powershell`
|
|
|
|
## Shell completions
|
|
|
|
Currently available shell completions:
|
|
|
|
- zsh: `completions/zsh` should be installed to `/usr/share/zsh/site-functions/_watchexec`
|