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