Clarify folder mounts in docker docs, check monitor paths exist in FileWatcher

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
 # Changelog
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+
+- **File Monitor Path Validation**: Monitor now validates directories exist before watching ([#204](https://github.com/ggozad/haiku.rag/issues/204))
+  - Provides clear error message pointing to `haiku.rag.yaml` configuration
+  - Prevents cryptic `FileNotFoundError: No path was found` from watchfiles
+- **Docker Documentation**: Improved Docker setup instructions
+  - Added volume mount examples for config file and documents directory
+  - Clarified that `monitor.directories` must use container paths, not host paths
+
 ## [0.21.0] - 2025-12-18
 
 ### Added

docker/README.md

@@ -44,19 +44,35 @@ Mount your config file and data directory:
 
 ```bash
 docker run -p 8001:8001 \
-  -v $(pwd)/haiku.rag.yaml:/app/haiku.rag.yaml \
-  -v $(pwd)/data:/data \
+  -v /path/to/haiku.rag.yaml:/app/haiku.rag.yaml \
+  -v /path/to/data:/data \
   haiku-rag
 ```
 
-The container will automatically use the mounted `haiku.rag.yaml` configuration file.
+To enable file monitoring, also mount a documents directory:
+
+```bash
+docker run -p 8001:8001 \
+  -v /path/to/haiku.rag.yaml:/app/haiku.rag.yaml \
+  -v /path/to/data:/data \
+  -v /path/to/docs:/docs \
+  haiku-rag haiku-rag serve --mcp --monitor
+```
+
+Your `haiku.rag.yaml` must reference the **container path** for monitoring:
+
+```yaml
+monitor:
+  directories:
+    - /docs  # Container path, not host path
+```
 
 For API keys (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.), pass them as environment variables:
 
 ```bash
 docker run -p 8001:8001 \
-  -v $(pwd)/haiku.rag.yaml:/app/haiku.rag.yaml \
-  -v $(pwd)/data:/data \
+  -v /path/to/haiku.rag.yaml:/app/haiku.rag.yaml \
+  -v /path/to/data:/data \
   -e OPENAI_API_KEY=your-key-here \
   haiku-rag
 ```

docs/installation.md

@@ -93,7 +93,10 @@ Build locally to include all features and document processing without docling-se
 
 ```bash
 docker build -f docker/Dockerfile -t haiku-rag .
-docker run -p 8001:8001 -v $(pwd)/data:/data haiku-rag
+docker run -p 8001:8001 \
+  -v /path/to/haiku.rag.yaml:/app/haiku.rag.yaml \
+  -v /path/to/data:/data \
+  haiku-rag
 ```
 
-See `docker/README.md` for complete build and configuration instructions.
+See `docker/README.md` for complete build and configuration instructions, including how to enable file monitoring.

examples/docker/README.md

@@ -14,13 +14,36 @@ This setup showcases the minimal haiku.rag-slim image combined with external doc
 ## Quick Start
 
 ```bash
+# Create required directories
 mkdir -p data docs
-cp haiku.rag.yaml.example haiku.rag.yaml  # Edit as needed
+
+# Create config file from example (required)
+cp haiku.rag.yaml.example haiku.rag.yaml
+
+# Start services
 docker compose up -d
 ```
 
 Place documents in `docs/` for automatic indexing.
 
+## Volume Mounts
+
+The docker-compose.yml mounts three volumes:
+
+| Host Path | Container Path | Purpose |
+|-----------|---------------|---------|
+| `./data` | `/data` | Persistent LanceDB database |
+| `./docs` | `/docs` | Documents to monitor and index |
+| `./haiku.rag.yaml` | `/app/haiku.rag.yaml` | Configuration file |
+
+**Important:** The `haiku.rag.yaml` config file must exist before running `docker compose up`. Copy it from the example:
+
+```bash
+cp haiku.rag.yaml.example haiku.rag.yaml
+```
+
+The example config sets `monitor.directories: [/docs]` - this is the **container path**, not your host path. Documents placed in `./docs` on your host will appear at `/docs` inside the container.
+
 ## Usage
 
 ```bash

haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/monitor.py

@@ -90,6 +90,18 @@ class FileWatcher:
         self.supported_extensions = get_converter(config).supported_extensions
 
     async def observe(self):
+        if not self.paths:
+            logger.warning("No directories configured for monitoring")
+            return
+
+        # Validate all paths exist before attempting to watch
+        missing_paths = [p for p in self.paths if not Path(p).exists()]
+        if missing_paths:
+            raise FileNotFoundError(
+                f"Monitor directories do not exist: {missing_paths}. "
+                "Check your haiku.rag.yaml configuration."
+            )
+
         logger.info(f"Watching files in {self.paths}")
         filter = FileFilter(
             ignore_patterns=self.ignore_patterns,

tests/test_monitor.py

@@ -440,3 +440,37 @@ async def test_file_watcher_orphan_handles_spaces_in_filenames():
 
         # Should NOT delete the document since file exists
         mock_client.delete_document.assert_not_called()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_file_watcher_observe_raises_on_missing_paths():
+    """Test observe() raises FileNotFoundError when directories don't exist."""
+    mock_client = AsyncMock(spec=HaikuRAG)
+
+    test_config = AppConfig(
+        monitor=MonitorConfig(
+            directories=[Path("/nonexistent/path/that/does/not/exist")]
+        )
+    )
+    watcher = FileWatcher(client=mock_client, config=test_config)
+
+    with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError) as exc_info:
+        await watcher.observe()
+
+    assert "Monitor directories do not exist" in str(exc_info.value)
+    assert "haiku.rag.yaml" in str(exc_info.value)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_file_watcher_observe_returns_early_when_no_directories():
+    """Test observe() returns early when no directories are configured."""
+    mock_client = AsyncMock(spec=HaikuRAG)
+
+    test_config = AppConfig(monitor=MonitorConfig(directories=[]))
+    watcher = FileWatcher(client=mock_client, config=test_config)
+
+    # Should return without error when no directories configured
+    await watcher.observe()
+
+    # No documents should have been processed
+    mock_client.create_document_from_source.assert_not_called()