pyinotify
Linux filesystem events monitoring
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you are on Linux and need simple, low-overhead filesystem event monitoring for an existing or legacy project. No, if you are starting a new project—the package has been unmaintained since 2015 and is marked dormant; you should evaluate actively maintained alternatives. The MIT license carries no restrictions, but the age and lack of updates pose a maintenance risk.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Linux with inotify support (kernel ≥ 2.6.13); will not work on macOS, Windows, or non-Linux systems.
- Python version support is unspecified in current metadata.
- High install friction: the package has not been updated since 2015 and is marked dormant.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT License (permissive) — MIT License (permissive) places no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution. You may use this package freely in commercial or proprietary projects without licensing obligations.
last release 2015-06-04 (4089 days) · last repo commit 2024-07-02 · 2,305 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 864,055 downloads/mo, #4,866 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pyinotify
import pyinotify
wm = pyinotify.WatchManager()
notifier = pyinotify.Notifier(wm, pyinotify.PrintAllEvents())
wm.add_watch('/path/to/watch', pyinotify.ALL_EVENTS)
notifier.loop()- Whether the package works reliably with modern Python versions (3.10+) despite classifiers only listing up to 3.4.
- Whether the dormant status and 2015 release date indicate unresolved bugs or compatibility issues with current Linux kernels.
- Whether alternative, actively maintained filesystem monitoring libraries are recommended for new projects.
What it is and what it does
Pyinotify is a Python wrapper around the Linux inotify kernel subsystem, which monitors filesystem events at the OS level. It allows you to watch directories or files and receive notifications when they are created, modified, deleted, or accessed, then execute custom Python callbacks in response. The package has no external runtime dependencies and works by binding directly to inotify system calls.
The library is stable and production-ready but has not been updated since 2015. It is Linux-only and requires kernel support for inotify. The dormant maintenance status and age mean you should evaluate whether it still meets your needs or whether a more actively maintained alternative would be safer for new projects.
Use it for
- Build a file watcher that triggers tests or rebuilds when source code changes.
- Monitor a log directory and process new log files as they are written.
- Implement a backup system that detects file modifications and syncs changes to remote storage.
- Create a configuration hot-reload mechanism that restarts services when config files change.
- Track file deletions in a directory to maintain an audit log of removed items.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you are on Linux and need simple, low-overhead filesystem event monitoring for an existing or legacy project.
No, if you are starting a new project—the package has been unmaintained since 2015 and is marked dormant; you should evaluate actively maintained alternatives. The MIT license carries no restrictions, but the age and lack of updates pose a maintenance risk.
Install
pyinotify on PyPI
Before you install
High install friction: the package has not been updated since 2015 and is marked dormant. It carries no runtime dependencies but requires Linux ≥ 2.6.13 and inotify kernel support, which limits portability. The archived repository and age suggest limited ongoing maintenance.
Requires Linux with inotify support (kernel ≥ 2.6.13); will not work on macOS, Windows, or non-Linux systems. Python version support is unspecified in current metadata.
License in practice
MIT License (permissive) places no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution. You may use this package freely in commercial or proprietary projects without licensing obligations.
Quickstart
pip install pyinotify
import pyinotify
wm = pyinotify.WatchManager()
notifier = pyinotify.Notifier(wm, pyinotify.PrintAllEvents())
wm.add_watch('/path/to/watch', pyinotify.ALL_EVENTS)
notifier.loop()Verify before relying
- Whether the package works reliably with modern Python versions (3.10+) despite classifiers only listing up to 3.4.
- Whether the dormant status and 2015 release date indicate unresolved bugs or compatibility issues with current Linux kernels.
- Whether alternative, actively maintained filesystem monitoring libraries are recommended for new projects.
Package facts
| License | MIT License permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Dormant 4,089 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 864,055 / month, #4,866 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.4Programming Language :: Python :: 2.5Programming Language :: Python :: 2.6Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.0Programming Language :: Python :: 3.1Programming Language :: Python :: 3.2Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: System :: FilesystemsTopic :: System :: Monitoring |
Evidence: pyinotify-0.9.6.tar.gz
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