file - Java detect changes in filesystem

Question

I have a folder in which continuously new files are being dumped.In Java,what is the best way to detect changes in file-system (ie. a specified folder in which the files are being dumped) and add the newly arrived files to a queue data structure so that i can sequentially process each incoming file.

I'm aware of listFiles() function in the File class but using this I can only get files that are available at an instant of time. Of course I can continuously poll the folder and get the list of files in it using a thread.But is this the best way or is there a better way to accomplish this.

Answer 1

Continuously polling is the way to do it in Java as of now - though don't poll too often, it can be quite a heavy operation if the directory contains lots of entries.

JDK 7 will have a specific API for doing just this java.nio.file.WatchFile