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doc: clarify fs.watch and inodes on linux, os x #6099

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doc: clarify fs.watch and inodes on linux, os x #6099

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11 changes: 11 additions & 0 deletions doc/api/fs.markdown
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Expand Up @@ -1157,6 +1157,16 @@ reliably or at all.
You can still use `fs.watchFile`, which uses stat polling, but it is slower and
less reliable.

#### Inodes

<!--type=misc-->

On Linux and OS X systems, `fs.watch()` resolves the path to an [inode][] and
watches the inode. If the watched path is deleted and recreated, it is assigned
a new inode. The watch will emit an event for the delete but will continue
watching the *original* inode. Events for the new inode will not be emitted.
This is expected behavior.

#### Filename Argument

<!--type=misc-->
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1378,3 +1388,4 @@ Synchronous versions of [`fs.write()`][]. Returns the number of bytes written.
[MDN-Date]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Date
[Readable Stream]: stream.html#stream_class_stream_readable
[Writable Stream]: stream.html#stream_class_stream_writable
[inode]: http://www.linux.org/threads/intro-to-inodes.4130