Is there a way to get ls to listen for changes and update output similar to tail -f?
2
I have a process that creates many files in a known directory, and the only way to tell how far along it is is to type ls manually. Is there a way to make the output of ls update automatically as new files are created, similar to how tail -f works? Because of their names, every new file appears at the end of the list, so I wouldn't have to worry about them appearing in the middle.
terminal ls
asked 2 days ago
David ScottDavid Scott
132
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add a comment |
2
I have a process that creates many files in a known directory, and the only way to tell how far along it is is to type ls manually. Is there a way to make the output of ls update automatically as new files are created, similar to how tail -f works? Because of their names, every new file appears at the end of the list, so I wouldn't have to worry about them appearing in the middle.
terminal ls
asked 2 days ago
David ScottDavid Scott
132
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David Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Is the program that creates the files something that instead could possibly be updated to output how far it has come, alternatively how far it has left to go? If not, a tool that is often used to detect file modifications/creation isinotify.
– Kusalananda
2 days ago
In this specific instance, yes. However I've bumped into this problem in cases where I could not edit the program, and because I couldn't find an answer to this problem on the internet. I figured it would be a useful trick to know, and may help someone else out if there is a solution.
– David Scott
2 days ago
Also, doing this without editing the program does not restrict you to receiving the output in the launch terminal, and can be turned on and off.
– David Scott
2 days ago
add a comment |
2
2
2
I have a process that creates many files in a known directory, and the only way to tell how far along it is is to type ls manually. Is there a way to make the output of ls update automatically as new files are created, similar to how tail -f works? Because of their names, every new file appears at the end of the list, so I wouldn't have to worry about them appearing in the middle.
terminal ls
asked 2 days ago
David ScottDavid Scott
132
New contributor
David Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I have a process that creates many files in a known directory, and the only way to tell how far along it is is to type ls manually. Is there a way to make the output of ls update automatically as new files are created, similar to how tail -f works? Because of their names, every new file appears at the end of the list, so I wouldn't have to worry about them appearing in the middle.
terminal ls
terminal ls
asked 2 days ago
David ScottDavid Scott
132
New contributor
David Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 days ago
David ScottDavid Scott
132
New contributor
David Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 days ago
David ScottDavid Scott
132
New contributor
David Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 days ago
David ScottDavid Scott
132
asked 2 days ago
David ScottDavid Scott
132
132
New contributor
David Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
David Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
David Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Is the program that creates the files something that instead could possibly be updated to output how far it has come, alternatively how far it has left to go? If not, a tool that is often used to detect file modifications/creation isinotify.
– Kusalananda
2 days ago
In this specific instance, yes. However I've bumped into this problem in cases where I could not edit the program, and because I couldn't find an answer to this problem on the internet. I figured it would be a useful trick to know, and may help someone else out if there is a solution.
– David Scott
2 days ago
Also, doing this without editing the program does not restrict you to receiving the output in the launch terminal, and can be turned on and off.
– David Scott
2 days ago
add a comment |
Is the program that creates the files something that instead could possibly be updated to output how far it has come, alternatively how far it has left to go? If not, a tool that is often used to detect file modifications/creation isinotify.
– Kusalananda
2 days ago
In this specific instance, yes. However I've bumped into this problem in cases where I could not edit the program, and because I couldn't find an answer to this problem on the internet. I figured it would be a useful trick to know, and may help someone else out if there is a solution.
– David Scott
2 days ago
Also, doing this without editing the program does not restrict you to receiving the output in the launch terminal, and can be turned on and off.
– David Scott
2 days ago
Is the program that creates the files something that instead could possibly be updated to output how far it has come, alternatively how far it has left to go? If not, a tool that is often used to detect file modifications/creation is
inotify.– Kusalananda
2 days ago
Is the program that creates the files something that instead could possibly be updated to output how far it has come, alternatively how far it has left to go? If not, a tool that is often used to detect file modifications/creation is
inotify.– Kusalananda
2 days ago
In this specific instance, yes. However I've bumped into this problem in cases where I could not edit the program, and because I couldn't find an answer to this problem on the internet. I figured it would be a useful trick to know, and may help someone else out if there is a solution.
– David Scott
2 days ago
In this specific instance, yes. However I've bumped into this problem in cases where I could not edit the program, and because I couldn't find an answer to this problem on the internet. I figured it would be a useful trick to know, and may help someone else out if there is a solution.
– David Scott
2 days ago
Also, doing this without editing the program does not restrict you to receiving the output in the launch terminal, and can be turned on and off.
– David Scott
2 days ago
Also, doing this without editing the program does not restrict you to receiving the output in the launch terminal, and can be turned on and off.
– David Scott
2 days ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
10
You can use command like:
watch ls
to loop execution of ls command
If the listing is too long you can add -C to ls
watch ls -C
Or you can create explicit loop with while
while [ 1 ]
do
clear
ls
sleep 60
done
edited 2 days ago
roaima
43.1k553116
answered 2 days ago
Romeo NinovRomeo Ninov
5,59831928
1
Marked this as the answer for being the closest to my intentions, with the added benefit of allowing for the multi-column output of ls.
– David Scott
2 days ago
1
I turned this into a one-line terminal command to make it into an alias more easily:while [ 1 ]; do clear; ls; sleep 60; done
– David Scott
2 days ago
@DavidScott, sure, that's possible, feel free to tune the code according to your environment and requirements
– Romeo Ninov
2 days ago
2
Since you want to watch a progress, something likewatch 'ls -ltr | tail'may suit best. Note the quotes so that the shell does not interpret the|.
– rexkogitans
2 days ago
add a comment |
8
You can use a script like this that monitor every changes and after any change it makes a ls sorted by date. To be able to execute it you would need inotify-tools installed. The script would be the following:
#!/bin/bash
DIRECTORY="your_directory_path"
inotifywait -m -r -e create --format '%w%f' "${DIRECTORY}" | while read NEW
do
ls -hltr
done
answered 2 days ago
DaselDasel
3917
New contributor
Dasel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I like this answer because it doesn't "poll" and update every X seconds. Instead, it will trigger a refresh when there is a reason to refresh. Presumably, it will react more quickly thansleep 60will allow.
– Christopher Schultz
2 days ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
10
You can use command like:
watch ls
to loop execution of ls command
If the listing is too long you can add -C to ls
watch ls -C
Or you can create explicit loop with while
while [ 1 ]
do
clear
ls
sleep 60
done
edited 2 days ago
roaima
43.1k553116
answered 2 days ago
Romeo NinovRomeo Ninov
5,59831928
1
Marked this as the answer for being the closest to my intentions, with the added benefit of allowing for the multi-column output of ls.
– David Scott
2 days ago
1
I turned this into a one-line terminal command to make it into an alias more easily:while [ 1 ]; do clear; ls; sleep 60; done
– David Scott
2 days ago
@DavidScott, sure, that's possible, feel free to tune the code according to your environment and requirements
– Romeo Ninov
2 days ago
2
Since you want to watch a progress, something likewatch 'ls -ltr | tail'may suit best. Note the quotes so that the shell does not interpret the|.
– rexkogitans
2 days ago
add a comment |
10
You can use command like:
watch ls
to loop execution of ls command
If the listing is too long you can add -C to ls
watch ls -C
Or you can create explicit loop with while
while [ 1 ]
do
clear
ls
sleep 60
done
edited 2 days ago
roaima
43.1k553116
answered 2 days ago
Romeo NinovRomeo Ninov
5,59831928
1
Marked this as the answer for being the closest to my intentions, with the added benefit of allowing for the multi-column output of ls.
– David Scott
2 days ago
1
I turned this into a one-line terminal command to make it into an alias more easily:while [ 1 ]; do clear; ls; sleep 60; done
– David Scott
2 days ago
@DavidScott, sure, that's possible, feel free to tune the code according to your environment and requirements
– Romeo Ninov
2 days ago
2
Since you want to watch a progress, something likewatch 'ls -ltr | tail'may suit best. Note the quotes so that the shell does not interpret the|.
– rexkogitans
2 days ago
add a comment |
10
10
10
You can use command like:
watch ls
to loop execution of ls command
If the listing is too long you can add -C to ls
watch ls -C
Or you can create explicit loop with while
while [ 1 ]
do
clear
ls
sleep 60
done
edited 2 days ago
roaima
43.1k553116
answered 2 days ago
Romeo NinovRomeo Ninov
5,59831928
You can use command like:
watch ls
to loop execution of ls command
If the listing is too long you can add -C to ls
watch ls -C
Or you can create explicit loop with while
while [ 1 ]
do
clear
ls
sleep 60
done
edited 2 days ago
roaima
43.1k553116
answered 2 days ago
Romeo NinovRomeo Ninov
5,59831928
edited 2 days ago
roaima
43.1k553116
edited 2 days ago
roaima
43.1k553116
edited 2 days ago
roaima
43.1k553116
43.1k553116
answered 2 days ago
Romeo NinovRomeo Ninov
5,59831928
answered 2 days ago
Romeo NinovRomeo Ninov
5,59831928
answered 2 days ago
Romeo NinovRomeo Ninov
5,59831928
5,59831928
1
Marked this as the answer for being the closest to my intentions, with the added benefit of allowing for the multi-column output of ls.
– David Scott
2 days ago
1
I turned this into a one-line terminal command to make it into an alias more easily:while [ 1 ]; do clear; ls; sleep 60; done
– David Scott
2 days ago
@DavidScott, sure, that's possible, feel free to tune the code according to your environment and requirements
– Romeo Ninov
2 days ago
2
Since you want to watch a progress, something likewatch 'ls -ltr | tail'may suit best. Note the quotes so that the shell does not interpret the|.
– rexkogitans
2 days ago
add a comment |
1
Marked this as the answer for being the closest to my intentions, with the added benefit of allowing for the multi-column output of ls.
– David Scott
2 days ago
1
I turned this into a one-line terminal command to make it into an alias more easily:while [ 1 ]; do clear; ls; sleep 60; done
– David Scott
2 days ago
@DavidScott, sure, that's possible, feel free to tune the code according to your environment and requirements
– Romeo Ninov
2 days ago
2
Since you want to watch a progress, something likewatch 'ls -ltr | tail'may suit best. Note the quotes so that the shell does not interpret the|.
– rexkogitans
2 days ago
1
1
Marked this as the answer for being the closest to my intentions, with the added benefit of allowing for the multi-column output of ls.
– David Scott
2 days ago
Marked this as the answer for being the closest to my intentions, with the added benefit of allowing for the multi-column output of ls.
– David Scott
2 days ago
1
1
I turned this into a one-line terminal command to make it into an alias more easily:
while [ 1 ]; do clear; ls; sleep 60; done– David Scott
2 days ago
I turned this into a one-line terminal command to make it into an alias more easily:
while [ 1 ]; do clear; ls; sleep 60; done– David Scott
2 days ago
@DavidScott, sure, that's possible, feel free to tune the code according to your environment and requirements
– Romeo Ninov
2 days ago
@DavidScott, sure, that's possible, feel free to tune the code according to your environment and requirements
– Romeo Ninov
2 days ago
2
2
Since you want to watch a progress, something like
watch 'ls -ltr | tail' may suit best. Note the quotes so that the shell does not interpret the |.– rexkogitans
2 days ago
Since you want to watch a progress, something like
watch 'ls -ltr | tail' may suit best. Note the quotes so that the shell does not interpret the |.– rexkogitans
2 days ago
add a comment |
8
You can use a script like this that monitor every changes and after any change it makes a ls sorted by date. To be able to execute it you would need inotify-tools installed. The script would be the following:
#!/bin/bash
DIRECTORY="your_directory_path"
inotifywait -m -r -e create --format '%w%f' "${DIRECTORY}" | while read NEW
do
ls -hltr
done
answered 2 days ago
DaselDasel
3917
New contributor
Dasel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I like this answer because it doesn't "poll" and update every X seconds. Instead, it will trigger a refresh when there is a reason to refresh. Presumably, it will react more quickly thansleep 60will allow.
– Christopher Schultz
2 days ago
add a comment |
8
You can use a script like this that monitor every changes and after any change it makes a ls sorted by date. To be able to execute it you would need inotify-tools installed. The script would be the following:
#!/bin/bash
DIRECTORY="your_directory_path"
inotifywait -m -r -e create --format '%w%f' "${DIRECTORY}" | while read NEW
do
ls -hltr
done
answered 2 days ago
DaselDasel
3917
New contributor
Dasel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I like this answer because it doesn't "poll" and update every X seconds. Instead, it will trigger a refresh when there is a reason to refresh. Presumably, it will react more quickly thansleep 60will allow.
– Christopher Schultz
2 days ago
add a comment |
8
8
8
You can use a script like this that monitor every changes and after any change it makes a ls sorted by date. To be able to execute it you would need inotify-tools installed. The script would be the following:
#!/bin/bash
DIRECTORY="your_directory_path"
inotifywait -m -r -e create --format '%w%f' "${DIRECTORY}" | while read NEW
do
ls -hltr
done
answered 2 days ago
DaselDasel
3917
New contributor
Dasel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
You can use a script like this that monitor every changes and after any change it makes a ls sorted by date. To be able to execute it you would need inotify-tools installed. The script would be the following:
#!/bin/bash
DIRECTORY="your_directory_path"
inotifywait -m -r -e create --format '%w%f' "${DIRECTORY}" | while read NEW
do
ls -hltr
done
answered 2 days ago
DaselDasel
3917
New contributor
Dasel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
DaselDasel
3917
New contributor
Dasel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
DaselDasel
3917
answered 2 days ago
DaselDasel
3917
3917
New contributor
Dasel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Dasel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Dasel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I like this answer because it doesn't "poll" and update every X seconds. Instead, it will trigger a refresh when there is a reason to refresh. Presumably, it will react more quickly thansleep 60will allow.
– Christopher Schultz
2 days ago
add a comment |
I like this answer because it doesn't "poll" and update every X seconds. Instead, it will trigger a refresh when there is a reason to refresh. Presumably, it will react more quickly thansleep 60will allow.
– Christopher Schultz
2 days ago
I like this answer because it doesn't "poll" and update every X seconds. Instead, it will trigger a refresh when there is a reason to refresh. Presumably, it will react more quickly than
sleep 60 will allow.– Christopher Schultz
2 days ago
I like this answer because it doesn't "poll" and update every X seconds. Instead, it will trigger a refresh when there is a reason to refresh. Presumably, it will react more quickly than
sleep 60 will allow.– Christopher Schultz
2 days ago
add a comment |
David Scott is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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David Scott is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Is the program that creates the files something that instead could possibly be updated to output how far it has come, alternatively how far it has left to go? If not, a tool that is often used to detect file modifications/creation is
inotify.– Kusalananda
2 days ago
In this specific instance, yes. However I've bumped into this problem in cases where I could not edit the program, and because I couldn't find an answer to this problem on the internet. I figured it would be a useful trick to know, and may help someone else out if there is a solution.
– David Scott
2 days ago
Also, doing this without editing the program does not restrict you to receiving the output in the launch terminal, and can be turned on and off.
– David Scott
2 days ago