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https://github.com/samccone/monocle

a tool for watching things
https://github.com/samccone/monocle

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a tool for watching things

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# Monocle -- a tool for watching things

[![logo](https://raw.github.com/samccone/monocle/master/logo.png)](https://raw.github.com/samccone/monocle/master/logo.png)

Have you ever wanted to watch a folder and all of its files/nested folders for changes. well now you can!

## Installation

```
npm install monocle
```

## Usage

### Watch a directory:

```js
var monocle = require('monocle')()
monocle.watchDirectory({
root: ,
fileFilter: ,
directoryFilter: ,
listener: fn(fs.stat+ object), //triggered on file change / addition
complete: //file watching all set up
});
```

The listener will recive an object with the following

```js
name: ,
path: ,
fullPath: ,
parentDir: ,
fullParentDir: ,
stat:
```

[fs.stats](http://nodejs.org/api/fs.html#fs_class_fs_stats)

When a new file is added to the directoy it triggers a file change and thus will be passed to your specified listener.

The two filters are passed through to `readdirp`. More documentation can be found [here](https://github.com/thlorenz/readdirp#filters)

### Watch a list of files:

```js
Monocle.watchFiles({
files: [], //path of file(s)
listener: , //triggered on file / addition
complete: //file watching all set up
});
```

### Just watch path

Just an alias of `watchFiles` and `watchDirectory` so you don't need to tell if that's a file or a directory by yourself. Parameter passed to `path` can be a `string` or a `array` of `string`.

```js
Monocle.watchPaths({
path: [], //list of paths, or a string of path
fileFilter: , // `*.js` for example
listener: , //triggered on file / addition
complete: //file watching all set up
});
```

### Force to use fs.watch

You can use the USE_FS_WATCH env variable set to true, to force this behavior regardless of platform.

## Why not just use fs.watch ?

- file watching is really bad cross platforms in node
- you need to be smart when using fs.watch as compared to fs.watchFile
- Monocle takes care of this logic for you!
- windows systems use fs.watch
- osx and linux uses fs.watchFile

## License

BSD