macOS
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brew install fswlocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew
Install fsw with Homebrew
File change monitor with multiple backends. Version 1.3.9 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
File change monitor with multiple backends
Project links
Commands and aliases
- fsw
- fswatch-run
- fswatch-run-bash
- fswatch-run-zsh
history
Project history and usage
fsw was Enrico M. Crisostomo's 2013-2014 cross-platform file-change monitor, later merged into fswatch.
Project history
The fsw README says it was written at the end of 2013 to provide both a drop-in replacement for Alan Dipert's original fswatch and a common front end for OS X FSEvents, BSD kqueue, and Linux inotify.
In April 2014, the fsw and fswatch authors agreed to merge the two programs, with Enrico Crisostomo taking over fswatch maintenance. The fsw README states that development would continue in the main fswatch repository and that fsw would likely be frozen.
Adoption history
fsw's adoption history is mostly transitional. The supplied package data shows a Homebrew package, but the official README redirected long-term users toward fswatch after the merger.
How it is used
fsw accepts a list of paths and emits change events when those files or directories are modified. Its project page documents four monitors: OS X FSEvents, BSD kqueue, Linux inotify, and a portable stat-based polling monitor.
The project page recommends release tarballs for normal users and reserves repository checkouts for developers with the GNU Build System.
Why package nerds care
fsw is historically interesting because it explains how the modern fswatch package absorbed a parallel cross-platform watcher effort. For package maintainers, it is mainly a predecessor and compatibility waypoint rather than the active upstream.
Timeline
- 2009: Alan Dipert wrote the first fswatch implementation for OS X FSEvents.
- 2013: Enrico M. Crisostomo wrote fsw as a broader cross-platform front end.
- 2014: fsw public repository created.
- 2014: fsw and fswatch merged, with future development continuing in fswatch.
Related projects
- fswatch is the direct successor project and long-term upstream.
- fsw relates to the operating-system event APIs it wrapped: FSEvents, kqueue, inotify, and stat-based polling.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 13 platform targets.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
fsw | cli | global executable | |
fswatch-run | cli | global executable | |
fswatch-run-bash | cli | global executable | |
fswatch-run-zsh | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version1.3.9
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://github.com/emcrisostomo/fsw
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/emcrisostomo/fswnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:fsw |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.3.9 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/fsw |
| Homepage | https://emcrisostomo.github.io/fsw/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/emcrisostomo/fsw |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/emcrisostomo/fsw#readme |
| License | GPL-3.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://github.com/emcrisostomo/fsw/releases/download/1.3.9/fsw-1.3.9.tar.gz |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | fsw |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | yes |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment