Powershell inotify

This is an example how to use inotify with powershell

# find the path to the desktop folder:
$desktop = [Environment]::GetFolderPath('Desktop')

# specify the path to the folder you want to monitor:
$Path = $desktop

# specify which files you want to monitor
$FileFilter = '*'  

# specify whether you want to monitor subfolders as well:
$IncludeSubfolders = $true

# specify the file or folder properties you want to monitor:
$AttributeFilter = [IO.NotifyFilters]::FileName, [IO.NotifyFilters]::LastWrite 

# specify the type of changes you want to monitor:
$ChangeTypes = [System.IO.WatcherChangeTypes]::Created, [System.IO.WatcherChangeTypes]::Deleted, [System.IO.WatcherChangeTypes]::Changed

# specify the maximum time (in milliseconds) you want to wait for changes:
$Timeout = 1000

# define a function that gets called for changes:
# (or create more functions - perhaps one per change type)
function Invoke-SomeAction
{
  param
  (
    [Parameter(Mandatory)]
    [System.IO.WaitForChangedResult]
    $ChangeInformation
  )
  
  Write-Warning 'Change detected:'
  $ChangeInformation | fl * | Out-String | Write-Host -ForegroundColor DarkYellow

  write-host ""; write-host ""; write-host ""

}

# use a try...finally construct to release the
# filesystemwatcher once the loop is aborted
# by pressing CTRL+C

try
{
  Write-Warning "FileSystemWatcher is monitoring $Path"
  
  # create a filesystemwatcher object
  $watcher = New-Object -TypeName IO.FileSystemWatcher -ArgumentList $Path, $FileFilter -Property @{
    IncludeSubdirectories = $IncludeSubfolders
    NotifyFilter = $AttributeFilter
  }

  # start monitoring manually in a loop:
  do
  {
    # wait for changes for the specified timeout
    # IMPORTANT: while the watcher is active, PowerShell cannot be stopped
    # so it is recommended to use a timeout of 1000ms and repeat the
    # monitoring in a loop. This way, you have the chance to abort the
    # script every second.
    $result = $watcher.WaitForChanged($ChangeTypes, $Timeout)
    # if there was a timeout, continue monitoring:
    if ($result.TimedOut) { continue }
    
    Invoke-SomeAction -Change $result
    # the loop runs forever until you hit CTRL+C    
  } while ($true)
}
finally
{
  # release the watcher and free its memory:
  $watcher.Dispose()
  Write-Warning 'FileSystemWatcher removed.'
}

Create a Windows Service

### Create Service

$params = @{
  Name = "Inotify Job Desktop"
  BinaryPathName = 'C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe c:\scripts\this_script.ps1'
  #DependsOn = "NetLogon"
  DisplayName = "Test Service"
  StartupType = "Manual"
  Description = "This is a test inotify service."
}

New-Service @params