watchexec ☆

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Description:
Execute commands when watched files change

Type: Formula | Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Developer tools

Tags: file-watcher developer-tools automation cli rust

Install: brew install watchexec

About:
Watchexec is a command-line tool that monitors file paths for changes and executes commands in response. It provides robust filtering capabilities, including glob patterns and .gitignore support, to avoid unnecessary triggers. The tool is designed for performance and reliability, making it ideal for development workflows.

Key Features:

Cross-platform file system monitoring
Advanced filtering with glob patterns and .gitignore support
Debouncing to prevent rapid, repeated executions
Signal handling and process management
Shell command execution

Use Cases:

Automatically recompiling code or restarting a server during development
Running tests or linters when source files are saved
Triggering build scripts for documentation or assets

Alternatives:

fswatch – fswatch is a cross-platform file change monitor, but watchexec offers more integrated command execution and filtering.
inotify-tools – inotify-tools is Linux-specific and lower-level; watchexec provides a more user-friendly interface and cross-platform support.

Version History

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