Re: [PATCH] feat: add --live flag for real-time file watching

On Sun, Apr 12, 2026 at 05:07:57PM +0200, Benno Schulenberg wrote:
> 
> Op 12-04-2026 om 13:03 schreef Josh Finlay:
> > I'd like to propose a patch that adds a live file watching mode to nano,
> > activated via a new --live command-line flag. [...]
> 
> AI generated.  Go away.

Though even if this were not AI, watch and tail are great programs that 
'do one thing and do it well' (or at least a limited set of things) and 
should not have their functionality subsumed by nano just because it 
could theoretically do the job. We don't need all of coreutils embedded 
into our editor. Nano should also not:

- implement fuse functionality to edit files on drives not 
  actually mounted (don't have root access)
- invoke a shell directly in a buffer (typing ^T^Z is tiresome - 
  this one is probably controversial, but IMO tmux does this job
  much better)
- generate text from graphics (aalib is outdated)
- call an Uber (don't want to have to pull out my phone)
- cook my breakfast at 9AM (nearby IHOP quality has dropped and cron is 
  obtuse)

But it's good to discuss project scope from time to time. Thank you for 
helping kick of that discussion Josh!

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