uma de suas opções é o subsistema inotify do kernel do linux:
inotify is a Linux kernel subsystem that acts to extend filesystems to notice changes to the filesystem, and report those changes to applications
mas como inotify
é kernel-land, você precisa de algo no espaço do usuário para usá-lo:
- inchron :
The inotify cron daemon (incrond) is a daemon which monitors filesystem events and executes commands defined in system and user tables. It's use is generally similar to cron(8).
- gamin :
Gamin is a monitoring system for files and directories that independently implements a subset of FAM, the File Alteration Monitor. Running as a service, it allows for the detection of modifications to a file or directory. gam_server functions as a daemon for Gamin.
- ' levantamento de informações ':
inoticoming - trigger actions when files hit an incoming directory
houve uma resposta para uma pergunta semelhante no askubuntu: