node-watch

Simple utility for nodejs to watch file changes.

A file change is:

• a file whom's mtime is changed
• a file which is added to a 'watched' folder
• a file which is deleted form a 'watched' folder

A new feature is to watch folders recurively. However, polling for changes on the file system is slow. And I did not test this module on a large number of files and nested folders.

This utility is handy for e.g. automatic testing in combination with a testing frame-work, An example lives within the JakeFile (jake and docco required)

run: jake autotest

Make changes in the src/watch.js file or the specs/watchSpec.js file and see te specs running automaticly

Install:

 npm install nodewatch

(Use the "-g" global switch for installing nodewatch global)

Usage:

 var watch = require('nodewatch');
 // Adding 2 dirs relative from process.cwd()
 // Nested dirs are not watched
 // dirs can also be added absolute
 watch.add("./spec").add("./lib/watch").onChange(function(file,prev,curr,action){
    console.log(action);
    console.log(file);
    console.log(prev.mtime.getTime());
    console.log(curr.mtime.getTime());
 });
 
 // Clear (remove) the listeners
 watch.clearListeners();
 
 // Remove dirs to watch
 watch.remove("./spec").remdDir("./lib/watch");

Methods:

 // Add a dir or file relative from process.cwd()
 watch.add("./specs");
 // or
 watch.add("../specs");
 // or
 watch.add("../specs",true);
 // With the last argument = true, the specs folder
 // is recursive watched.

 // Just watch ONE file
 watch.add("../path/to/my/file.js")
 // Add a dir absolute 
 watch.add("/absolute/path");
 
 // Set a listener
 // It will provide a file (filename as string), prev and curr stats objects
 watch.onChange(function(file,prev,curr,action){
        // action is 'delete' || 'change' || 'new'
        console.log(action);
        console.log(file);
        console.log(prev.mtime.getTime());
        console.log(curr.mtime.getTime());
  });
 
 // Remove a dir or file (absolute or relative)
 watch.remove("./spec");
 
 // Clear the listener(s) attached via onChange();
 watch.clearListeners();