macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install hwatchlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install hwatchMacPorts ports tree · sysutils/hwatch/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install hwatch with Homebrew, apk, MacPorts, Nix
Modern alternative to the watch command. Version 0.4.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-04-29.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add hwatchAlpine Linux edge package indexes · hwatch · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#hwatchnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/hw/hwatch/package.nix · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
Modern alternative to the watch command
Project links
Commands and aliases
- hwatch
history
Project history and usage
hwatch is a modern replacement for the Unix `watch` command. It repeatedly runs a command, keeps output history, shows diffs, can log results as JSON, and can trigger hooks when output changes.
Project history
The GitHub repository was created in February 2018, and the README describes hwatch as an alternative watch command developed starting in 2018. The release list shows a v0.1.0 tag in July 2018, followed by 0.1.x releases through 2019 and later 0.2/0.3 releases in 2022.
Adoption history
The README lists installation paths through Homebrew, MacPorts, AUR, Nix, conda-forge, mise/asdf, Cargo, GitHub release archives, and distro packaging work such as Alpine and Debian-style assets. That spread matches a small terminal utility whose adoption depends on being easy to install on many developer machines.
How it is used
hwatch is used where plain `watch` is too stateless: monitoring command output, scrolling previous results, viewing line or word diffs, writing JSONL logs, running an after-command on change, or using batch output in scripts.
Why package nerds care
Its package-nerd value is the familiar Unix-watch workflow with persistence and diff awareness. It is a small tool, but it fills a practical gap for people who inspect build output, service state, queue depths, or logs from a terminal.
Timeline
- 2018: Repository created and v0.1.0 release published.
- 2019: 0.1.x releases continued the early CLI line.
- 2022: 0.2.x and 0.3.x releases appeared.
- 2026: README packaging notes listed multiple package-manager and release-asset paths.
Related projects
- hwatch is directly related to the traditional Unix `watch` command, terminal diff viewers, JSONL logging workflows, Rust/Cargo packaging, and shell hook automation.
Sources
- Project README, GitHub release metadata, GitHub repository metadata, and Homebrew package metadata were used.
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 6 platform targets.
- Build metadata lists 1 build dependencies.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
hwatch | 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 version0.4.2
manager updated2026-04-29
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detected0.4.2
https://github.com/blacknon/hwatch
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:hwatch |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.4.2 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/hwatch |
| Homepage | https://github.com/blacknon/hwatch |
| Repository | https://github.com/blacknon/hwatch |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/blacknon/hwatch#readme |
| License | MIT |
| Source archive | https://github.com/blacknon/hwatch/archive/refs/tags/0.4.2.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-04-29T13:05:49Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Build dependencies | rust |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, 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 | hwatch |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Nix95%
hwatch
nix profile install nixpkgs#hwatch- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Hwatch
apk95%
hwatch 0.3.11-r0
A modern alternative to the watch command
https://github.com/blacknon/hwatch
sudo apk add hwatch- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: hwatch
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Hwatch
apk95%
hwatch-doc 0.3.11-r0
A modern alternative to the watch command (documentation)
https://github.com/blacknon/hwatch
sudo apk add hwatch-doc- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: hwatch
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Hwatch
apk95%
hwatch-fish-completion 0.3.11-r0
Fish completions for hwatch
https://github.com/blacknon/hwatch
sudo apk add hwatch-fish-completion- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: hwatch
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Hwatch
apk95%
hwatch-zsh-completion 0.3.11-r0
Zsh completions for hwatch
https://github.com/blacknon/hwatch
sudo apk add hwatch-zsh-completion- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: hwatch
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Hwatch
MacPorts95%
hwatch
sudo port install hwatch- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Hwatch
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
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment