Reacting to file changes?

[mpizenberg]

For a some example code on how to use some industrial camera API, I'm repeatedly saving the captured image into the same image file. Granted, this isn't the best way to show images ^^. But it felt convenient with an image viewer that was able to watch file changes and reload the image. I'm just wondering if watching file changes to reload the current image was something possible with oculante?

I'll take the opportunity to say great job with oculante!

[woelper]

Hey! Thanks for the suggestion - a really great idea. Sorry for answering so late, I have to get used to the fact that people actually write items here, and I don't see all the notifications in time :)

Thanks for the kind words, I'll add a ticket for it!

[woelper]

A couple of follow-up questions:

• Should the image be reset on change? For example if you zoomed in, should it revert to the original size?
• Should there be a notification that the image has been reloaded?
• Should this be optional, perhaps an option in settings or default? (I guess some image viewers reload as default)

[mpizenberg]

That's a very good start!

In my use case, the changes happen as I enter line return in the cli program so the focus is in the terminal and not on the image viewer.

[woelper]

I have looked at it more today, and there does not seem to be an easy way to wake up the app if there is no input. Unless I have a different idea, I will probably go with reloading if the image has focus and provide an additional way to force the app to redraw continuously. That way you could set it up the way you need.

[mpizenberg]

If that can help, I've built a file watcher for some other project of mine. When one of the files watched change, it recompiles them. I imagine something similar could be done? watch if the current image changes, re-decode it.

Here is the watching part in my project: https://github.com/mpizenberg/elm-test-rs/blob/d9e0c921c986311f80fdfccc7d2cd9502b9a9520/src/project.rs#L54

[woelper]

That is very kind of you, thanks!

The issue is not getting the file change, but working withing the limitations I have - as far as I know, there is no way to wake up the engine's "game loop" externally, so new changes will only be picked up once the application receives input. I've added the option to redraw every frame in settings, which should provide you with the functionality you need until I come up with a better, way. If you like, give the new release a spin and check if the points above have been addressed!

[mpizenberg]

Ah right, I've forgotten that GUIs are hard.

Thanks! I'll try it out during the week.