Express.js brute-force ☕️-reloading

README.md

This neat little script let's you develop Express apps without using something like nodemon to reload your server between changes.

Usage:

1. Put dev.js outside your project source folder, scripts/dev.js is what I'm using.
2. Make sure your actual app in src/index.js exports the Express instance itself without listening:

import express from 'express'

const app = express()
app.use('/foo', (req, res) => res.send('Bar'))

export default app

3. Run node scripts/dev and enjoy.

dev.js

const express = require('express')
const chokidar = require('chokidar')
const babelRegister = require('babel-register')
const path = require('path')

const sourcePath = path.resolve(__dirname, '../src')

babelRegister({
  only: sourcePath
})

const watcher = chokidar.watch(sourcePath)
watcher.on('ready', () => {
  watcher.on('all', () => {
    Object.keys(require.cache).filter(key => key.startsWith(sourcePath)).forEach(key => {
      delete require.cache[key]
    })
  })
})

let handler = require(sourcePath)

const app = express()
app.use((req, res, next) => {
  handler = require(sourcePath).default

  handler(req, res, next)
})

const port = process.env.PORT || 8081
const host = process.env.HOST || 'localhost'

app.listen(port, host, err => {
  if (err) {
    throw err
  }

  console.log(`Listening at http://${host}:${port}`)
})

Nice reference! Think line 27 in dev.js needs to be handler = require(sourcePath).default?

@mariuslundgard Forgot to mention we're using https://github.com/59naga/babel-plugin-add-module-exports to work around having to use .default all over the place. I've updated the Gist though since most people won't have it installed.

👍