Executes commands in response to file modifications
Publisher’s description
What is watchexec?
watchexec by watchexec is open-source Windows software in the languages & sdks category. It is written in Rust.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides Portable installers for 64-bit and ARM64 Windows. It runs without installation (portable).
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 10,130 times. The source code on GitHub (watchexec/watchexec) has 7,244 stars. Similar programs include Go Programming Language, LLVM and Deno.
Project description on GitHub: “Executes commands in response to file modifications”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Portable: runs without installation
- Large user base
In short: watchexec is an open-source languages & sdk tool for 64-bit and ARM64 PCs.
Is watchexec safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
33519183D6BA6641DCDD12994E06A4AAAA5FD2083A41143C8484FFE793408F5F· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Security practices (OpenSSF Scorecard)
Automated checks of the watchexec/watchexec repository on GitHub by the Open Source Security Foundation, last run on October 19, 2026.
- Actively maintained10
- No dangerous workflows10
- No binaries in the repository10
- Licence declared10
- Code review5
- Pinned dependencies1
- Restricted token permissions0
- OpenSSF Best Practices badge0
- Security policy0
- Fuzzing0
- Static code analysis0
- Signed releases0
The score rates how the project is developed and released, not whether the program is safe to install. scorecard.dev
Recent versions
All 1 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7.0Latest | August 24, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id watchexec.watchexec -echoco install watchexec -yRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- watchexec
- Category
- Languages & SDKs
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/watchexec/watchexec
- Written in
- Rust
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 2.7.0
- Released
- August 24, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- September 11, 2026
- Versions listed
- 1
- Chocolatey downloads
- 10,130
- GitHub stars
- 7,244
- GitHub forks
- 208
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- watchexec.watchexec
- Chocolatey package
- watchexec
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is watchexec free?
Yes. watchexec is open-source software under the Apache-2.0 licence.
Is watchexec safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install watchexec with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does watchexec run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Can I use watchexec without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to watchexec?
Go Programming Language, LLVM, Deno, CMake and Yarn. The alternatives page compares them.
