Question 1

How to set up FileSystem to watch a directory in Elixir?

Accepted Answer

Add {:file_system, "~> 1.0"} to your mix.exs deps, then use FileSystem.start_link(dirs: ["/path/to/dir"]) and subscribe to receive {:file_event, pid, {path, events}} messages. For production use, integrate it into a GenServer as shown in the README example for better management.

Question 2

FileSystem vs polling for file changes in Elixir?

Accepted Answer

FileSystem uses native OS APIs for real-time notifications, reducing CPU usage and latency compared to polling. However, polling is simpler to implement and doesn't depend on external libraries, making it better for infrequent checks or environments where native listeners aren't available.

Question 3

Does FileSystem support recursive directory watching?

Accepted Answer

The README doesn't explicitly state recursive watching; it monitors specified directories. For subdirectories, you may need to add them manually or check backend options like watch_root, but this depends on the underlying native listener's capabilities.

Question 4

How to handle file events in a Phoenix application with FileSystem?

Accepted Answer

Integrate FileSystem into a GenServer or similar OTP process, then use Phoenix Channels or PubSub to broadcast events to clients. Extend the GenServer example from the README to send messages to Phoenix endpoints for real-time updates in web interfaces.

Question 5

Troubleshooting FileSystem compilation errors on MacOS?

Accepted Answer

For MacOS 10.14, run 'open /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/Packages/macOS_SDK_headers_for_macOS_10.14.pkg' to install headers. On newer versions, ensure Xcode is installed. Refer to the README's CI badges for platform compatibility and check for updated documentation.

Question 6

Can FileSystem monitor network drives or cloud storage?

Accepted Answer

Native listeners like inotify and fsevent are designed for local filesystems and may not work reliably on network-mounted drives. FileSystem inherits this limitation, so for such cases, consider polling or filesystem-specific APIs as alternatives.

Question 7

What are the latency settings in FileSystem for real-time notifications?

Accepted Answer

Pass latency: 0 in the options to get instant notifications on supported platforms like macOS, but setting it too low can increase system load. Always test with your specific backend and refer to platform documentation for optimal values.

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