Automatic file git commit/push upon change

auto_git_file.md

Please see the most up-to-date version of this protocol on my blog at https://darencard.net/blog/.

Automatically push an updated file whenever it is changed

Linux

1. Make sure inotify-tools is installed (https://github.com/rvoicilas/inotify-tools)
2. Configure git as usual
3. Clone the git repository of interest from github and, if necessary, add file you want to monitor
4. Allow username/password to be cached so you aren't asked everytime

git config credential.helper store

5. Open a terminal and navigate, as necessary; issue the following command

# <<branch>> = branch you are pushing to
# <<file>> = file you want to monitor
inotifywait -q -m -e CLOSE_WRITE --format="git commit -m 'auto commit' %w && git push origin <<branch>>" <<file>> | bash

6. In a separate shell, do whatever you want and when monitored file is updated, it will automatically get committed and pushed (as long as the shell with the inotifywait command is still active)

Mac

1. Make sure fswatch is installed (https://github.com/emcrisostomo/fswatch)
2. Configure git as usual
3. Clone the git repository of interest from github and, if necessary, add file you want to monitor
4. Allow username/password to be cached so you aren't asked everytime

git config credential.helper store

5. Create a script that performs the commit and push (auto_commit_push.sh)

#!/bin/bash
# <<branch>> = branch you are pushing to
git commit -m "auto commit" $1
git push origin <<branch>>

6. Open a terminal and navigate, as necessary; issue the following command

# <<file>> = file you want to monitor
# <<path/to/auto_commit_push.sh>> = path to the script created above
fswatch -0 <<file>> | xargs -0 -n 1 bash <<path/to/auto_commit_push.sh>>

7. In a separate shell, do whatever you want and when monitored file is updated, it will automatically get committed and pushed (as long as the shell with the fswatch command is still active)

For people who are interested in getting this to run on Windows, try using WSL or Gitbash. You might have to make certain modifications to the script above, but it should not be too difficult. Happy coding 😎

It only runs once for me, doesnt run a second time