---
pageid: cmd.get-config
title: get-config
layout: docs
section: Commands
permalink: docs/cmd/get-config.html
---

The `get-config` command returns the `.watchmanconfig` for the root.
If there is no `.watchmanconfig`, it returns an empty configuration field:

```bash
$ watchman get-config .
{
    "version": "2.9.9",
    "config": {}
}
```

```bash
$ watchman get-config /path/to/root
{
    "version": "2.9.9",
    "config": {
        "ignore_dirs": [
            "buck-out"
        ]
    }
}
```

Note that watchman only reads the `.watchmanconfig` file when the watch is
established.  If changes are made after that point, the `get-config` response
will not reflect them.

See [Configuration Options](/watchman/docs/config.html#configuration-options)
for details on valid contents of the `config` field.  Note that the values
returned by `get-config` are passed straight through from the `.watchmanconfig`
file, and thus may contain fields that are not strictly legal.

This command is available since watchman version 2.9.9.
