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Glite Dictionary
👀 An observer 🕯️ A vigil person 💻 A monitoring tool
watcher

watcher

7 6.4
A program that watches files or events and starts actions when they change
  • noun
  • /ˈwɑːtʃər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : monitor
  • A security watcher monitors the building's cameras to ensure safety and prevent intrusions.

We have the the self aware watcher that is able to build a predictive model and thus choose the best path.

Examples

  • Numbers in brackets are a point-in-time snapshot of the number of GitHub watchers as a crude indicator of relative influence.

    Blog text (21)

  • Frawley also serves as co-moderator of ITEA's TIDE Watcher listserv.

    Academic text (2007)

  • From the ruling Politburo, Geoffrey Stern, a well-known Kremlin watcher.

    The Fourth Protocol (1987)

  • Started as a natural outgrowth of the ever-popular IdeaGarden, the function of TIDE Watcher is to share information from the political realm as well as to serve as a forum for ideas related to the politics of change.

    Academic text (2007)

  • The software watcher alerts the user whenever there are changes to the system files.

  • The file watcher automatically updates the database when new entries are added.

Synonyms

watch
vswatcher
  • Specialized
62 7.0

A computer program that repeats a command to show updated output

automatically triggers actions or notifications on specified changes rather than only showing output
observer
vswatcher
  • Specialized
32 5.8

A part of a program that watches another part and updates when it changes

monitors various resources and triggers actions rather than just subscribing
listener
vswatcher
  • Specialized
4 6.3

A program part that waits for events like new connections and responds

monitors resources proactively and triggers actions on specified changes
port watcher
vswatcher
  • Specialized
6.3

A program that watches network ports and reports open or suspicious connections

monitors many resource types and triggers actions beyond just port activity
portwatcher
vswatcher
  • Specialized
9.2

A program or device that watches computer network ports for unusual activity

covers broader resource changes and can execute automated responses
poller
vswatcher
  • Specialized
7.7

A program that regularly checks a server for updates

uses event driven or broader monitoring to trigger actions immediately on change

Antonyms

unmonitored
2 4.6

No one watches or checks it

Compounds

bird watcher
6 2.8

A person who watches wild birds for fun or study

clock watcher
  • Informal
1 6.5

A person at work who watches the clock and wants to leave on time

night watcher
1 6.9

A person who looks after and guards a place at night

fire watcher
  • Archaic
9.4

A person who looks for fires caused by enemy bombs during a war and reports them

port watcher
7.4

A person who watches for suspicious activity at a dock or port

port watcher
  • Specialized
6.3

A program that watches network ports and reports open or suspicious connections

How Reactive

watcher
  • Specialized
7 6.4
monitor program
  • Specialized
1 4.6

Surface Forms

watcher singular
watchers plural

Morphology

watcher = watch (transparent) = watch + er

Agentive '-er' is applied metaphorically to a program/process that 'watches' resources, a productive and transparent extension.

Etymology

Watcher The tech use of watcher keeps the same idea: watch means 'to look' or 'guard'. A software watcher is a background program that 'watches' files or events and acts when something changes.