Question 1

How do I install and set up FS on a Linux server?

Accepted Answer

First, install inotify-tools using your package manager (e.g., apt-get install inotify-tools). Then, add FS as a dependency in your mix.exs or rebar.config, start the watcher with fs:start_link/2, and subscribe processes to receive events.

Question 2

FS or inotify directly for Erlang file monitoring?

Accepted Answer

FS wraps inotify and other backends into a unified Erlang API, saving you from writing OS-specific code. However, if you only target Linux and need maximum low-level control, using inotify directly might be more flexible.

Question 3

How to handle file events in Elixir using FS?

Accepted Answer

Use FS's Erlang functions from Elixir by starting a watcher and subscribing a GenServer or process. Handle incoming messages in a receive loop or callback, and refer to the hex.pm package for basic Elixir integration examples.

Question 4

Does FS work with network drives or NFS?

Accepted Answer

FS relies on native OS APIs, which may have limited support for network file systems. Event detection on NFS or similar drives can be unreliable, so test thoroughly in such environments before deployment.

Question 5

What are the performance costs of monitoring many files with FS?

Accepted Answer

Performance is generally good due to native backends, but monitoring large directories or high-frequency changes can strain system resources. Consider tuning backend-specific settings or limiting watched scopes to avoid overhead.

Question 6

How to subscribe to multiple directories with FS?

Accepted Answer

Start multiple watcher instances with different paths using fs:start_link/2 for each, managed under an OTP supervisor. The sample subscriber code shows how to handle events, but you'll need to extend it for multi-directory logic.

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