blob: 3d18938c9183365962418abe71ae03e873e8cc67 [file] [log] [blame]
.. default-domain:: python
.. highlight:: sh
.. _chapter-watch:
--------
pw_watch
--------
pw_watch is similar to file system watchers found in the web development space.
These watchers trigger a web server reload on source change, increasing
iteration. In the embedded space, file system watchers are less prevalent but no
less useful! The Pigweed watcher module makes it easy to instantly compile,
flash, and run tests upon save.
.. image:: doc_resources/pw_watch_on_device_demo.gif
.. note::
pw_watch currently only works with Pigweed's GN build.
Module Usage
============
The simplest way to get started with pw_watch is to launch it from a shell using
the Pigweed environment.
.. code:: sh
$ pw watch
By default, pw_watch will watch for repository changes and then trigger Ninja
builds sequentially for each subdirectory in ``${PIGWEED_ROOT}/out``. To
override this behavior, follow ``pw watch`` with paths to Ninja build
directories like so:
.. code:: sh
$ pw watch out/host out/disco
The ``--patterns`` and ``--ignore_patterns`` arguments can be used to include
and exclude certain file patterns that will trigger rebuilds.
Unit Test Integration
=====================
Thanks to GN's understanding of the full dependency tree, only the tests
affected by a file change are run when pw_watch triggers a build. By default,
host builds using pw_watch will run unit tests. To run unit tests on a device as
part of pw_watch, refer to your device's
:ref:`target documentation<chapter-targets>`.