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inotify

Why

• The traditional Unix API does not provide such a mechanism.
  
  
• The design of the existing Linux dnotify mechanism is "sub-optimal":
  
  
  • Employs signals for notification.
    
    
  • Not reliable in some circumstances.
    
    
  • Delivers less precise information than inotify.
    
    
  • Requires an open file descriptor for directory:
    
    
    • can't unmount file system!
      
      
    • can consume large numbers of file descriptors!
      
      
  • Only monitors directories; can't monitor individual files.
    
    

(C) 2006, Michael Kerrisk