---
name: "maildirwatch"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "maildrop"
version: "3.1.8-2+b1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/maildirwatch"
---

# maildirwatch(1)

wait for changes to a maildir

## NAME

maildirwatch - wait for changes to a maildir

## SYNOPSIS

**maildirwatch** {*maildir*} {*command*} \[*argument*...\]

## DESCRIPTION

**maildirwatch** repeatedly invokes the *command*, with any optional *argument*s, an external command, as follows:

• The first time the *command* gets executed is immediately after **maildirwatch** starts.

• Subsequent invocatons of *command* occur whenever there *may* be some kind of a change to the contents of the *maildir*.

**maildirwatch** does not determine what, if anything, changed in the *maildir*. **maildirwatch** might occasionally raise a false alarm and run the *command* even though nothing changed, but that's rare. It's also possible that by the time *command* actually runs, then whatever was changed in the *maildir* is no longer changed; it became what it was before it was changed (a mystery that will remain unsolved forever). It's up to the *command* to intelligently figure out if it needs to do something about whatever it finds in the *maildir*.

**maildirwatch** is a rudimentary mechanism for writing shell scripts that deal with newly-delivered mail, in some form or fashion.

## EXIT CODE

A non-zero exit code indicates that the specified *maildir* does not exist or is corrupted.

Otherwise **maildirwatch** runs until the *command* exits with a non-zero exit code. **maildirwatch** prints *command*'s exit code on standard output, and terminates with an exit code of 0.

## SEE ALSO

[**maildirmake**(1)](/maildirmake/1.md)\[1\].

## AUTHOR

**Sam Varshavchik**

Author

## NOTES

- 1\.

  [**maildirmake**(1)](/maildirmake/1.md)

  \[set $man.base.url.for.relative.links\]/maildirmake.html