File changes made by external programs are no longer reflected in real-time since 1.131

[ak-inori]

Description

Since upgrading to Pulsar 1.131 (Electron 30), files modified by external programs
are no longer automatically reflected in open editor tabs. The file content only
updates after manually closing and reopening the file.

This worked correctly in previous versions (1.130 and earlier).

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open a file in Pulsar
2. Modify the file using an external program (e.g. Claude Code, a CLI tool, or
   any other editor)
3. Observe that the Pulsar editor tab still shows the old content

Expected Behavior

The editor automatically reflects external file changes in real-time, as it did
before 1.131.

Actual Behavior

The editor does not reflect external changes. Manually closing and reopening the
file shows the updated content.

Environment

• Pulsar version: 1.131
• OS: macOS 26.3 (Build 25D125)

Additional Context

• Zed editor correctly reflects external file changes in real-time
• This regression appears to coincide with the Electron upgrade in 1.131,
  which may have affected the nsfw native file watcher module
• [pulsar-next] Figure out file-watcher approach that avoids crashes #1104 (now closed) previously addressed nsfw watcher crashes on window reload;
  this regression may indicate an incomplete or related fix

[savetheclocktower]

I have observed this, but only sporadically. We have a lot of unit tests around this behavior, so the fact that it sometimes happens despite the tests is vexing to me.

Please check the developer tools console and tell me if there are any errors related to file-watching.

[ak-inori]

I opened the Developer Tools console before the file was modified externally,　but no errors related to file-watching appeared — neither during nor after the external modification.

[savetheclocktower]

Does this happen for you 100% of the time, or is it more sporadic? Curious if you can get a different behavior if you reload the window or relaunch Pulsar.

I have some fixes in mind, but the one I prefer may depend on the symptoms you're seeing.

[bobics]

This issue occurs 100% of the time for me in my limited testing. When I have the same file open with the TextEdit, TextEdit picks up the file changes and reloads the buffer. In Pulsar, I need to close and reopen the file to see the changes.

Pulsar 1.131.1, Mac OS 26.3. Files are being updated in a shared folder on iCloud Drive.

[savetheclocktower]

Pulsar 1.131.1, Mac OS 26.3. Files are being updated in a shared folder on iCloud Drive.

That's a useful clue. If you get a chance, would you mind reporting on whether the symptoms are identical for a file that lives outside of iCloud Drive?

[bobics]

I did a bit of testing, and it looks like like my issue is related to sharing a read-only folder via iCloud Drive. If I share a file in a folder with edit permissions, Pulsar correctly refreshes the buffer. Also, I'm specifically sharing the folder to another user on another Mac.

However, if I share the folder with read-only permissions, Pulsar doesn't refresh the buffer. (Whereas TextEdit does.)

[savetheclocktower]

Fun!

Meanwhile, I can reproduce this at least some of the time on my work laptop, so I've got some things I can try.

[savetheclocktower]

OK… #1471 has a chance of fixing this by returning to the same file-watching mechanism that was used in 1.130 and below. @ironikaadeu and @bobics, keep an eye on this CI page; when it's done, it'll have binary artifacts you can download and install. (Since they're unsigned, you'll have to right-click them and select Open, then choose “Allow” or “Open Anyway” or whatever.)

Let me know if it's any better!

[ak-inori]

(Note: I'm the original reporter; username changed from @ironikaadeu to @ak-inori.)

Confirmed fixed with the build from #1471 — external file changes (via Claude Code) are now reflected in real-time as expected.

My files are on a local (non-iCloud) directory. Thanks for the quick fix!

[bobics]

Was about to test it, but I'm on an Apple Silicon Mac, and it looks like the artifacts have the Intel Mac build.

[savetheclocktower]

Ugh, yeah. Might do a one-off build in CirrusCI for Apple Silicon. I’ll let you know.