detecting new files or file deletions

[jody <jody xha gmail com>]

Hi

I don't know how the mechanism is called which allows
an application (e.g. nautilus) to detect changes in the
file system and to react accordingly (e.g. updating the displayed file list).

Is there a possibility to use this mechanism in a gtkmm application as well?
(how is this mechanism called?)

Thank You
  Jody