filewatch-cli

Watch files for changes and run commands automatically. Lightweight, zero-dependency file watcher with glob support, debouncing, process restart, and colorful output.

Uses native fs.watch — no chokidar or other heavy dependencies.

Install

npm install -g filewatch-cli

Usage

# Watch TypeScript files and run tests
filewatch "src/**/*.ts" -- npm test

# Watch multiple patterns
filewatch "src/**" "test/**" -- npm run build

# Custom debounce (default 300ms)
filewatch "src/**/*.ts" --debounce 500 -- npm test

# Run command immediately on start, then watch
filewatch "src/**/*.ts" --initial -- npm test

# Clear terminal on each change
filewatch "src/**/*.ts" --clear -- npm test

# Restart long-running processes (kills previous before re-running)
filewatch "src/**" --restart -- node server.js

# Ignore additional patterns (node_modules, .git, dist ignored by default)
filewatch "**/*.css" --ignore build --ignore tmp -- npm run styles

Options

| Option | Alias | Description | |---|---|---| | --debounce <ms> | -d | Debounce delay in milliseconds (default: 300) | | --initial | -i | Run command immediately on start | | --clear | -c | Clear terminal on each change | | --restart | -r | Kill previous process before re-running | | --ignore <pattern> | | Add ignore pattern (repeatable) | | --help | -h | Show help | | --version | -v | Show version |

Features

• Glob patterns — *, **, ?, {a,b}, [abc]
• Debouncing — configurable delay to batch rapid changes
• Process restart — kills previous process before starting new one (great for servers)
• Initial run — optionally run command before watching
• Clear screen — clean output on each change
• Changed file display — shows which file triggered the re-run
• Colorful timestamps — easy to scan output
• Zero dependencies — only fs.watch under the hood
• Cross-platform — macOS, Linux, Windows

License

MIT