Peculiar observation in Windows. Output text file is updated only when the file is either 'tailed' or 'type <filename>'

[termsofservice212]

Hello all,

Thought to raise this question because it's been bugging me for over a day. I am using rotating-file-stream on Win11 and it produces a text file. The size of this text file is never updated until I

1. refresh the file in Windows Explorer by clicking on the file, or
2. tail the file (eg Get-Content <filename> -Wait), or
3. type the file (eg type <filename>)

I realise this is a Windows issue. Can anyone share why this is the case?

[iccicci]

I'm sorry, but I really don't know: I do not use windows.

I can leave the issue open, so if somebody from the community have some ideas...

[Gredys]

@termsofservice212
Its just how windows works. Unless wiriting side call sync/flush its not gonna update file information in explorer.
But using sync/flush too much can make stress on the running system. And without using it - logs may be corrupted upon unexpected proccess/system exit. So it must be balanced in some way and not just flush/flush/flush all the time.