iWatch VS FSMonitor

iWatch

iWatch is a realtime filesystem monitoring program.

FSMonitor

FSMonitor is a macOS app that monitors all changes in the file system, including file creation...

Landing page //
2018-11-15

Landing page //
2021-08-02

iWatch

Website: iwatch.sourceforge.net

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iWatch features and specs

Open Source
iWatch is an open-source project, meaning that the source code is available for modification and customization by anyone, fostering community involvement and innovation.
Real-time Monitoring
It provides real-time monitoring of files and directories, allowing users to immediately detect and respond to changes.
Configurable
Highly configurable with various options to suit different monitoring needs, including the ability to specify which files or directories to watch and what kind of changes to monitor.
Email Alerts
Supports sending email alerts when changes are detected, ensuring timely notification of important events.

Possible disadvantages of iWatch

Limited Platform Support
Primarily designed for Linux systems and may not be compatible or available on Windows or macOS without additional setup or compatibility layers.
Potential Complexity
Configuring iWatch for specific use cases can be complex, requiring a certain level of technical knowledge to set up effectively.
Potential Resource Usage
Depending on the configuration and the number of files or directories being monitored, iWatch can consume significant system resources.
User Interface
Lacks a graphical user interface, making it less approachable for users who prefer not to work with command-line tools.

FSMonitor features and specs

Real-time Monitoring
FSMonitor provides real-time monitoring of file system changes, allowing users to quickly detect and respond to modifications.
Detailed File Information
The tool offers comprehensive insights into file attributes such as size, path, and type, which can help in effective file management.
Cross-platform Support
FSMonitor is available on multiple operating systems, providing flexibility and convenience for users working in diverse environments.
User-friendly Interface
The software features an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, making it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise.
Customizable Alerts
Users can set up customizable alerts to receive notifications of specific file system events, enhancing proactive management capabilities.

Possible disadvantages of FSMonitor

Resource Intensive
The constant monitoring can be resource-heavy, potentially impacting system performance, especially on older hardware.
Learning Curve
While the interface is user-friendly, some advanced features may require a learning curve for full utilization.
Limited Free Version
The free version of FSMonitor has limited capabilities, prompting users to opt for the paid version to access all features.
Potential for Information Overload
With extensive monitoring capabilities, users may encounter an overwhelming amount of information, making it challenging to identify critical alerts.
Compatibility Issues
There may be compatibility issues with certain file systems or configurations, which could hinder optimal functioning on specific setups.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to iWatch and FSMonitor)

FSMonitor

Note Taking

56 56%

Note Taking

44% 44

Image Optimisation

60 60%

Image Optimisation

40% 40

File Management

64 64%

File Management

36% 36

Information Organization

100 100%

Information Organization

0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using iWatch and FSMonitor. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FSMonitor should be more popular than iWatch. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

iWatch mentions (1)

I made a UNIX-style program to run commands every time a file is updated!
There's also iWatch which has been around forever, though maybe it's dead. I see Ubuntu 18.04 has man pages anyway. Source: almost 3 years ago

FSMonitor mentions (6)

Mac Power Users 690: Better Touch Tool with Andreas Hegenberg
Links and Show Notes:More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segmentsSubmit Feedbackfolivora.ai - Great Tools for your Mac!iPhone Praktikum 2009GitHub - quicklywilliam/multiclutch: Customization App for Macbooks with MultiTouch supportHopperFSMonitorProxyman · Native, Modern Web Debugging Proxy · Inspect network traffic from Mac, iOS, Android devices with easeCharles Web Debugging Proxy • HTTP... Source: over 2 years ago
Sloth – A Mac app that shows all open files, directories, sockets, etc.
FSMonitor[0] is similar to the old FileMon[1] but for macOS. In the default tree view, as new data is written, the entries are highlighted and sort of throb, so it's easy to track what's going on. [0] https://fsmonitor.com/ [1] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/filemon. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
App wants to make changes
They're hard to find these days for later versions of macOS, but you could try a file monitor so you can see what files the app is making changes to. You could try the free trial of FSMonitor. I'm just not sure how much you can do with the free trial though. Or look on GitHub to see if someone has scripted something similar. Source: almost 3 years ago
An app to find out which app created a file/folder?
Maybe FSMonitor can help if you set it to watch the parent folder. Source: over 3 years ago
The orange dot appears while on the lock screen but goes away right after I login. Does this happen for anyone else? I'm starting to think that a hidden process is using the microphone
You can use something like FSMonitor to watch/analyze which files are being touched while the orange dot is on. Source: almost 4 years ago