Restart Node.js Server Automatically with Nodemon

Nodemon is a development utility for Node.js that monitors project files and automatically restarts the server whenever changes are detected, streamlining the development workflow.

• Automatically detects file changes and restarts the application
• Automatically restarts the application after code updates.
• Enhances development speed and efficiency and is intended for development use only.

Installation of Nodemon

Below are the following steps by which we can automatically restart the NodeJS server with Nodemon.

Step 1: Create a New NodeJS Project

mkdir my-node-project
cd my-node-project

Initialize the NodeJS project by creating a package.json file:

npm init -y

Step 2: Install Express

If you want to create a basic server using Express.js, you can install it using npm.

npm install express

Step 3: Create the app.js file and write the below code.

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const port = 3000;

// Simple route
app.get('/', (req, res) => {
    res.send('Hello, World!');
});

// Start the server
app.listen(port, () => {
    console.log(`Server is running on http://localhost:${port}`);
});

Step 4: Install Nodemon Globally

To install Nodemon globally on your system, run the following command:

npm install -g nodemon

This allows you to use the nodemon command from anywhere on your system.

Install Nodemon Locally (Recommended for Projects)

It is recommended to install Nodemon locally as a development dependency to prevent version conflicts between global and project-specific installations. To install locally, run:

npm install --save-dev nodemon

This will install Nodemon as a development dependency. It will also add Nodemon to your package.json file under devDependencies.

Step 5: Create a Nodemon Script in package.json

To simplify running the server with Nodemon, add a script in the package.json file under the "scripts" section:

"scripts": {
    "start": "nodemon app.js"
}

This configuration runs app.js using Nodemon when you execute npm start.

Step 6: Run Your Project with Nodemon

Now, instead of running node app.js, you can start the server with Nodemon using:

npm start

Output

• Automatically restarts the server when changes are saved in app.js or other monitored files.
• Reflects code updates instantly without manual restarts.
• Improves development efficiency by providing immediate feedback.

Nodemon Environment Usage Guidelines

Nodemon is designed to support active development by automatically restarting applications when code changes occur. While it improves efficiency during development, it is not intended for production deployment.

• Best suited for development environments with frequent code updates.
• Not recommended for production due to lack of advanced process management features.
• Production environments should use tools like PM2 for stability and performance management.

Nodemon’s Benefits for Development

Here are some of the benefits of using Nodemon for your NodeJS development:

• Improved Workflow: Automatically restarts the server, saving development time.
• Real-time Updates: Detects file changes and reloads the application instantly.
• Flexibility: Offers configurable options to customize behavior.
• Speed: Reduces manual effort, allowing focus on coding and testing.
• Integration with package.json: Easily integrates using npm/yarn and script configuration.