# Install fsw with Homebrew File change monitor with multiple backends. Version 1.3.9 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:fsw ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install fsw ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:fsw - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.3.9 - **Source summary:** File change monitor with multiple backends - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-3.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-09T07:20:21+00:00 ## Executables - fsw (cli) - fswatch-run (cli) - fswatch-run-bash (cli) - fswatch-run-zsh (cli) - fsw (alias) - fswatch-run (alias) - fswatch-run-bash (alias) - fswatch-run-zsh (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-09 - Package-manager version: 1.3.9 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/emcrisostomo/fsw - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## 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 Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** fsw - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** yes - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [fswatch](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fswatch/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, file-watcher, file-watching, filesystem-events. - [funzzy](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/funzzy/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: automation, cli, developer-tools, file-watcher, file-watching. - [gaze](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gaze/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: automation, cli, developer-tools, file-watcher, file-watching. - [watchexec](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/watchexec/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: automation, cli, developer-tools, file-watcher, file-watching. - [watchman](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/watchman/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: automation, cli, developer-tools, file-watcher, file-watching. - [wgo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/wgo/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: automation, cli, developer-tools, file-watcher, file-watching. - [watcher](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/watcher/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, file-watcher, file-watching. - [entr](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/entr/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: automation, cli, developer-tools, file-watcher. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/fsw.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/fsw.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - cross-ecosystem install command graph