watchJunctionRecursive.js

const fs = require("fs");
const path = require("path");
const delay = (ms) => new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
async function main() {
    console.log("Setting up real/link folders...");
    try { fs.mkdirSync(path.join(__dirname, "real/sub/folder"), { recursive: true }); } catch { }
    try { fs.unlinkSync(path.join(__dirname, "real/sub/folder/test.txt")); } catch { }
    try { fs.symlinkSync(path.join(__dirname, "real"), path.join(__dirname, "link"), "junction"); } catch { }

    await delay(1_000);

    console.log("Creating recursive watchers...");

    let last = 0;
    const watcher1 = fs.watch(path.join(__dirname, "real"), { persistent: true, recursive: true }, (e, f) => {
        const now = Date.now();
        const delta = now - last;
        console.log(`  [${`+${delta.toString()}`.padStart(6, " ")}ms] real:`, f, e);
    });
    const watcher2 = fs.watch(path.join(__dirname, "link"), { persistent: true, recursive: true }, (e, f) => {
        const now = Date.now();
        const delta = now - last;
        console.log(`  [${`+${delta.toString()}`.padStart(6, " ")}ms] link:`, f, e);
    });

    await delay(1_000);

    console.log("Creating 'real/sub/folder/test.txt'...");
    last = Date.now();
    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(__dirname, "real/sub/folder/test.txt"), "test", { encoding: "utf8" });

    await delay(2_000);

    console.log("Deleting 'real/sub/folder/test.txt'...");
    last = Date.now();
    fs.unlinkSync(path.join(__dirname, "real/sub/folder/test.txt"));

    await delay(2_000);

    console.log("Creating 'link/sub/folder/test.txt'...");
    last = Date.now();
    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(__dirname, "link/sub/folder/test.txt"), "test", { encoding: "utf8" });

    await delay(2_000);

    console.log("Deleting 'link/sub/folder/test.txt'...");
    last = Date.now();
    fs.unlinkSync(path.join(__dirname, "link/sub/folder/test.txt"));

    await delay(5_000);

    console.log("Observing the link directory...");
    process.cwd(path.join(__dirname, "link/sub/folder/"));
    fs.readdirSync(path.join(__dirname, "link/sub/folder/"));
    last = Date.now();

    await delay(10_000);

    console.log("Closing watchers...");
    watcher1.close();
    watcher2.close();

    await delay(1_000);
}

main().catch(e => console.error(e));

Outputs:

Setting up real/link folders...
Creating recursive watchers...
Creating 'real/sub/folder/test.txt'...
  [    +4ms] real: sub\folder\test.txt rename
  [    +7ms] link: sub\folder\test.txt rename
  [    +9ms] real: sub\folder\test.txt change
  [   +10ms] real: sub\folder change
  [   +13ms] link: sub\folder\test.txt change
  [   +15ms] link: sub\folder change
Deleting 'real/sub/folder/test.txt'...
  [    +0ms] real: sub\folder\test.txt rename
  [    +1ms] link: sub\folder\test.txt rename
  [  +505ms] real: sub\folder change
  [  +507ms] link: sub\folder change
Creating 'link/sub/folder/test.txt'...
  [    +2ms] real: sub\folder\test.txt rename
  [    +4ms] link: sub\folder\test.txt rename
  [    +6ms] real: sub\folder\test.txt change
  [    +8ms] real: sub\folder change
  [   +10ms] link: sub\folder\test.txt change
  [   +12ms] link: sub\folder change
Deleting 'link/sub/folder/test.txt'...
  [    +2ms] real: sub\folder\test.txt rename
  [    +3ms] link: sub\folder\test.txt rename
Observing the link directory...
  [    +3ms] real: sub\folder change
  [    +9ms] link: sub\folder change
Closing watchers...

• OS Name: Microsoft Windows 11 Enterprise
• Version: 10.0.22631 Build 22631
• Developer Mode: Enabled
• File System: NTFS, Basic Disk, BitLocker Encrypted