How to find the most recent file in a directory using .NET, and without looping?

how about something like this...

var directory = new DirectoryInfo("C:\\MyDirectory");
var myFile = (from f in directory.GetFiles()
             orderby f.LastWriteTime descending
             select f).First();

// or...
var myFile = directory.GetFiles()
             .OrderByDescending(f => f.LastWriteTime)
             .First();

Another approach if you are using Directory.EnumerateFiles and want to read files in latest modified by first.

foreach (string file in Directory.EnumerateFiles(fileDirectory, fileType).OrderByDescending(f => new FileInfo(f).LastWriteTime))

}

You can react to new file activity with FileSystemWatcher.