---
id: pyobjc-framework-fsevents
version: "12.2.2"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# pyobjc-framework-FSEvents — Wrappers for the framework FSEvents on macOS

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 725.0K/mo

## What it is and what it does

This package wraps macOS's native FSEvents framework, exposing it to Python through PyObjC. FSEvents is the system's native mechanism for observing filesystem changes at scale, and unlike polling-based approaches, it remains efficient even when your application is suspended or backgrounded. The wrapper translates between Python and Objective-C, letting you call FSEvents functions directly from Python code.

You use it when you need to build macOS tools that react to file or directory changes—file watchers, backup utilities, development tools, or system monitors. The package itself provides no high-level API; instead, it gives you direct access to Apple's FSEvents framework, so you'll need to consult both Apple's documentation and PyObjC's translation guide to write working code. It's a thin binding layer, not an abstraction.

Use it for:

- Build a file watcher that triggers actions when files in a monitored directory change without polling
- Implement a backup or sync tool that responds to filesystem events on macOS
- Create a development tool that reloads or rebuilds when source files are modified
- Monitor system directories for security or auditing purposes on macOS
- Integrate filesystem monitoring into a larger PyObjC-based macOS application

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Provides Python bindings to macOS's FSEvents framework, allowing you to monitor filesystem changes reliably even when your program is not running continuously.

Yes, if you are building a macOS application that needs filesystem monitoring and you are already using PyObjC or are comfortable reading Apple's framework documentation. The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and provides direct access to a robust native API. No if you need cross-platform file watching or prefer higher-level abstractions—this is a low-level binding to macOS-only functionality.

## Install

pip install pyobjc-framework-fsevents
uv add pyobjc-framework-fsevents
poetry add pyobjc-framework-fsevents

## Installing pyobjc-framework-FSEvents

Before you install: Medium install friction due to platform-specific wheels (macOS only) and two PyObjC dependencies. Actively maintained with a recent release (3 days old) and steady repository activity.

License in practice: MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; you may use, modify, and distribute this package freely provided you retain the license notice.

Quickstart:

pip install pyobjc-framework-fsevents

from FSEvents import FSEventStreamCreate
# Use FSEvents API via PyObjC bindings to monitor filesystem

macOS only; requires Python 3.10 or later; depends on pyobjc-core and pyobjc-framework-Cocoa

Verify before relying:

- Specific code examples or tutorials for common monitoring patterns beyond Apple's documentation
- Performance characteristics when monitoring large directory trees or high-frequency changes
- Whether the package works reliably with Python's free-threading mode (3.13+)

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: medium
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 725.0K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

macos filesystem monitoring, fsevents python bindings, watch filesystem changes mac, pyobjc fsevents wrapper, macos file system events, reliable file change detection, cocoa filesystem observer, macos-only, filesystem-monitoring, pyobjc-binding

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