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Ever suspect something’s messing with your files?
Let’s catch it in the act—with Python.
Today, we're building a Spy Folder—a Python script that watches a folder and tells you if anything changes: new files, renamed files, deleted files, or anything shady.
Perfect for:
- Tracking shared project folders
- Catching sneaky background apps
- Debugging random disappearing files
- Or just flexing your Python muscles in a fun way
Let’s build it in less than 30 lines.
🧰 What You’ll Learn
This isn’t just a “fun with files” kind of script. You’ll learn how to:
- Use
os
andtime
to check files - Take folder “snapshots”
- Compare snapshots to detect file changes
- Print detailed updates in real-time
No frameworks. Just raw Python and a curious mind.
⚙️ Step 1: Let’s Install Nothing
No pip installs here. We’re using just the standard library.
👁️ Step 2: Spy Script Code
Here’s the whole script. Save it as spy_folder.py
:
import os
import time
WATCHED_FOLDER = "./watched" # Change this to your folder path
def snapshot(folder):
return {f: os.path.getmtime(os.path.join(folder, f)) for f in os.listdir(folder)}
print(f"👀 Watching: {WATCHED_FOLDER}")
before = snapshot(WATCHED_FOLDER)
while True:
time.sleep(2)
after = snapshot(WATCHED_FOLDER)
added = set(after.keys()) - set(before.keys())
removed = set(before.keys()) - set(after.keys())
modified = {f for f in after if f in before and after[f] != before[f]}
for f in added:
print(f"[+] File added: {f}")
for f in removed:
print(f"[-] File removed: {f}")
for f in modified:
print(f"[~] File modified: {f}")
before = after
💡 How It Works
We take a “snapshot” of the folder using the file names and their last modified times. Every 2 seconds, we take a new snapshot and compare it to the last one:
- If there’s a new file → we log it
- If a file disappeared → we scream inside
- If the modified time changed → we note that too
This thing is simple but weirdly addictive to watch.
🔒 Where It Gets Cool
You can:
- Turn this into a system tray app
- Log everything to a file
- Trigger an alert if a sensitive file changes
- Extend it to monitor multiple folders
For example, you can add subprocess
to run a script when a file is added. Or tie it to a Git commit hook.
🧠 Want More Stuff Like This?
If quirky tools like this tickle your Python brain, I highly recommend checking out this Python hub I’ve been using:
- Developer Tools & Libraries – Great for building scripts like this
- Python Articles – Deep dives and clever tricks
- Trending Discussions – Real devs, real struggles
- Top StackOverflow Questions – Always good for solving weird errors
- Popular Python Projects – Spy on what other devs are building 👀
Bookmark it: python.0x3d.site
It’s become my “daily scroll” when I want Python ideas that actually matter.
🚨 Final Thoughts
The point of projects like this isn’t to show off—it’s to learn by solving weird problems. You sharpen your tools, pick up new tricks, and maybe even build something you end up using every day.
This Spy Folder script might look small… but it’s your first step into building watchdogs, file trackers, even real-time sync tools.
So—go spy on your folders.
They've probably been up to something.
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