linux script that monitors file changes within folders (like autospec does!)

Question

I want to automatically kick off a build whenever a file changes.

I\'ve used autospec (RSpec) in Ruby and loved that.

How can this be done in bash?

Answer 1

See this example as an improvement upon on Ian Vaughan's answer:

#!/usr/bin/env bash
# script:  watch
# author:  Mike Smullin 
# license: GPLv3
# description:
#   watches the given path for changes
#   and executes a given command when changes occur
# usage:
#   watch  
#

path=$1
shift
cmd=$*
sha=0
update_sha() {
  sha=`ls -lR --time-style=full-iso $path | sha1sum`
}
update_sha
previous_sha=$sha
build() {
  echo -en " building...\n\n"
  $cmd
  echo -en "\n--> resumed watching."
}
compare() {
  update_sha
  if [[ $sha != $previous_sha ]] ; then
    echo -n "change detected,"
    build
    previous_sha=$sha
  else
    echo -n .
  fi
}
trap build SIGINT
trap exit SIGQUIT

echo -e  "--> Press Ctrl+C to force build, Ctrl+\\ to exit."
echo -en "--> watching \"$path\"."
while true; do
  compare
  sleep 1
done