How to execute the start script with Nodemon

Question

How can I execute the start script from a package.json file with Nodemon?

You sure you can execute a start script from package.json? Because from what I know package.json is to list all your dependencies and nodemon is to keep your process running. I am not quite sure what you are hinting at here? — Saras Arya, Nov 23 '15 at 20:23

score 204 · Answer 1 · edited May 28 '20 at 12:20

204

This will be a simple command for this

nodemon --exec npm start

edited May 28 '20 at 12:20

Peter Mortensen

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answered Sep 19 '17 at 11:37

Ashutosh Jha

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What if I need to run only tests without running the app? You solution runs both. – Serg Oct 04 '18 at 10:32
2

this does run `npm start` but does not start the node server for me.. how would it know where server.js is ? – Sonic Soul Apr 26 '19 at 15:51
1

This is the correct answer to the question. It is up to the user to make sure their NPM scripts actually do what they want them to. You can use nodemon directly in your scripts, but that's not what was asked. This is the proper way to have nodemon rerun scripts on changes. – Jon Church Jul 07 '21 at 19:08

score 71 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 24 '15 at 00:14

71

In package json:

{
  "name": "abc",
  "version": "0.0.1",
  "description": "my server",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "nodemon my_file.js"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "nodemon": "~1.3.8",
  },
  "dependencies": {

  }
}

Then from the terminal you can use npm start

Nodemon installation: https://www.npmjs.com/package/nodemon

answered Nov 24 '15 at 00:14

Murat Ozgul

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2

Sorry, looking for a way to execute the start script _with_ nodemon, not execute nodemon in the start script. Sorry if that wasn't clear. – Citronen Nov 24 '15 at 15:01
8

Won't `npm start` fail in production for lack of nodemon? – ripper234 Dec 26 '16 at 22:46
6

`npm run start` not `npm start` – M. Dhaouadi Mar 26 '18 at 09:44
3

I'm a beginner with npm. I don't understand why do we need to specify the start script while we can use nodemon out of the box? I just install nodemon with npm and use it directly without specifying any script and it works perfectly. – Hokhy Tann Apr 25 '18 at 09:29
2

@M.Dhaouadi `npm start` is an alias for `npm run start` – George Jul 22 '19 at 17:25
````nodemon yourfile.js```` directly from the terminal – mercury Aug 10 '19 at 19:56

score 32 · Answer 3 · edited May 28 '20 at 12:19

I have a TypeScript file called "server.ts", The following npm scripts configures Nodemon and npm to start my app and monitor for any changes on TypeScript files:

"start": "nodemon -e ts  --exec \"npm run myapp\"",
"myapp": "tsc -p . && node server.js",

I already have Nodemon on dependencies. When I run npm start, it will ask Nodemon to monitor its files using the -e switch and then it calls the myapp npm script which is a simple combination of transpiling the typescript files and then starting the resulting server.js. When I change the TypeScript file, because of -e switch the same cycle happens and new .js files will be generated and executed.

score 21 · Answer 4 · edited May 28 '20 at 12:28

21

I use Nodemon version 1.88.3 in my Node.js project. To install Nodemon, see in https://www.npmjs.com/package/nodemon.

Check your package.json, see if "scripts" has changed like this:

  "scripts": {
    "dev": "nodemon server.js"
  },

server.js is my file name, you can use another name for this file like app.js.

After that, run this on your terminal: npm run dev

edited May 28 '20 at 12:28

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jul 25 '18 at 02:25

Sukma Saputra

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score 15 · Answer 5 · edited May 28 '20 at 12:14

15

Use -exec:

"your-script-name": "nodemon [options] --exec 'npm start -s'"

edited May 28 '20 at 12:14

Peter Mortensen

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answered Nov 23 '15 at 20:23

KeatsPeeks

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Is there any way other than exec to do this? – Citronen Nov 23 '15 at 20:24
Just `nodemon [options] --exec 'npm start -s'` if you want to do it from the command line. – nathanhleung Nov 23 '15 at 21:03
@ArnoldRoa Install it. – Константин Ван Aug 08 '19 at 10:03
I have no idea about `-s` flag within `npm start -s`. – liuliang Sep 22 '21 at 11:38
@liuliang It's a shortcut for `--loglevel silent` (it was just an example). – KeatsPeeks Sep 23 '21 at 09:47

score 14 · Answer 6 · edited Sep 10 '21 at 11:37

14

In package json:

"scripts": {
  "start": "node index",
  "dev": "nodemon index"
},

"devDependencies": {
  "nodemon": "^2.0.2"
}

And in the terminal for developing:

npm run dev

And for starting the server regularly:

npm start

edited Sep 10 '21 at 11:37

Simeon Leyzerzon

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answered Jan 21 '20 at 11:02

amixOV

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score 7 · Answer 7 · edited May 28 '20 at 12:22

7

First change your package.json file,

"scripts":
    { 
        "start": "node ./bin/www",
        "start-dev": "nodemon ./app.js"
    },

After that, execute command

npm run start-dev

edited May 28 '20 at 12:22

Peter Mortensen

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answered Mar 12 '18 at 12:07

rkeshri

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1

But when you run off of `app.js` you are bypassing everything that `./bin/www` does... – Jake Wilson Mar 23 '18 at 21:30
2

this open new tab each time – Qui-Gon Jinn Oct 27 '19 at 19:55

Sohail Ahmad · Answer 8 · 2020-05-28T15:09:38.040

7

In package.json file. change file like this

"scripts":{ 
   "start": "node ./bin/www", 
   "start-dev": "nodemon ./app.js"
 },

and then execute npm run start-dev

edited May 28 '20 at 15:09

answered Apr 02 '19 at 13:18

Sohail Ahmad

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score 5 · Answer 9 · answered Jan 12 '21 at 14:37

5

Add this to script object from your project's package.json file


    "start":"nodemon index.js"

It should be like this


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

answered Jan 12 '21 at 14:37

Aravindh AKC

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score 4 · Answer 10 · edited May 28 '20 at 12:21

4

Nodemon emits events upon every change in state; start, restart crash, etc. You can add a Nodemon configuration file (nodemon.json) like so:

{
   "events": {
       "start": "npm run *your_file*"
   }
}

Read more in Nodemon events — run tasks at server start, restart, crash, exit.

edited May 28 '20 at 12:21

Peter Mortensen

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answered Feb 23 '18 at 00:05

King

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score 4 · Answer 11 · answered Apr 02 '21 at 15:14

4

I simply use 'npx' in the terminal to set up nodemon and execute it

npx nodemon

answered Apr 02 '21 at 15:14

erbaz kamran

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1
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score 3 · Answer 12 · edited Jun 21 '20 at 18:28

3

If globally installed then

"scripts": {
    "start": "nodemon FileName.js(server.js)",
},

Make sure you have installed nodemon globally:

npm install -g nodemon

Finally, if you are a Windows user, make sure that the security restriction of the Windows PowerShell is enabled.

edited Jun 21 '20 at 18:28

β.εηοιτ.βε

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answered Jun 21 '20 at 17:23

Satyam

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not true, for this to work, only add nodemon with dev dependencies will do, just that "nodemon" won't be available at your command line if you run it directly. – jimzcc Aug 19 '22 at 04:55

score 2 · Answer 13 · answered Mar 11 '20 at 16:12

You can also install nodemon globally for frequent use:

npm i nodemon -g or sudo npm i nodemon -g

then edit your package.json:

  "scripts": {
    "start": "node index.js",
    "dev": "nodemon index.js"
  },

Generally, 'dev' specifies developmental use (npm run dev).

score 2 · Answer 14 · edited May 28 '20 at 12:35

It will depend on types of your Nodemon installation. If you install Nodemon globally by using commands (npm install nodemon --global or npm install nodemon -g), you do not have to specify any script for Nodemon in your package.json file. Just executing command nodemon index.js will run your project.

But if you install Nodemon locally by command npm install nodemon then you have to specify the script. If you name it as start then npm run start or npm start will trigger the server to run.

// Absolutely no need for global installation
 "scripts": {
    "start": "nodemon index.js"
  }

score 1 · Answer 15 · answered Jul 16 '21 at 14:15

{ "name": "backend", "version": "0.0.0", "private": true, "scripts": { "start": "nodemon ./bin/www" }, "dependencies": { "bcrypt": "^5.0.1", "cookie-parser": "~1.4.4", "debug": "~2.6.9", "express": "~4.16.1", "hbs": "^4.1.2", "http-errors": "~1.6.3", "morgan": "~1.9.1", "nodemon": "^2.0.12" } }

use "nodemon ./bin/www" scripts > start

eg:

"scripts": { "start": "nodemon ./bin/www" },

score 1 · Answer 16 · answered Apr 06 '22 at 06:21

1

Try this, with watch:

nodemon --exec ts-node pathtoapp/filewithserver.ts -e ts

my project example: nodemon --exec ts-node src/server.ts -e ts

answered Apr 06 '22 at 06:21

Christian Chiama

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score 1 · Answer 17 · answered Feb 03 '23 at 17:36

First install package for nodemon as dev dependencies using

$ npm i nodemon -D

Then your package.json will have:

  "devDependencies": {
    "nodemon": "^2.0.20"
  }

Then you can edit change package.json scripts part as

  "scripts": {
    "start": "node app.js",
    "dev": "nodemon app.js"
  }

Then you can use command:

$ npm run dev

score 0 · Answer 18 · edited May 28 '20 at 12:30

0

To avoid a global install, add Nodemon as a dependency, then...

package.json

"scripts": {
    "start": "node ./bin/www",
    "start-dev": "./node_modules/nodemon/bin/nodemon.js ./bin/www"
  },

edited May 28 '20 at 12:30

Peter Mortensen

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answered Oct 20 '18 at 23:02

zipzit

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You can still make it "start-dev": "nodemon ./bin/www" if you install it under devDependencies – WoLfPwNeR Apr 01 '19 at 20:07

score 0 · Answer 19 · answered Jun 13 '20 at 13:25

If you have nodemon installed globally, simply running nodemon in your project will automatically run the start script from package.json.

For example:

"scripts": {
  "start": "node src/server.js"
},

From the nodemon documentation:

nodemon will also search for the scripts.start property in package.json (as of nodemon 1.1.x).

score 0 · Answer 20 · answered Feb 23 '21 at 08:38

I know it's 5 years late, if you want to use nodemon.json you may try this,

{
  "verbose": true,
  "ignore": ["*.test.js", "fixtures/*"],
  "execMap": {
    "js": "electron ." // 'js' is for the extension, and 'electron .' is command that I want to execute
  }
}

The execMap will execute like a script in package.json, then you can run nodemon js

score 0 · Answer 21 · edited Mar 08 '22 at 13:01

0

You can use this instead of npm start :

npx env-cmd nodemon

edited Mar 08 '22 at 13:01

Syscall

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answered Mar 08 '22 at 12:32

ahmet

1

score 0 · Answer 22 · edited Nov 16 '22 at 16:55

0

You can do this one:

nodemon --exec ts-node src/app.ts

This will run the app.ts for you forever

edited Nov 16 '22 at 16:55

Tyler2P

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answered Nov 14 '22 at 10:04

George ak

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score 0 · Answer 23 · edited Feb 15 '23 at 17:09

You can also install nodemon as a development dependency:

npm install --save-dev nodemon or using yarn: yarn add nodemon -D.

With a local installation, nodemon will not be available in your system path or you can't use it directly from the command line. Instead, the local installation of nodemon can be run by calling it from within an npm script (such as npm start) or using npx nodemon.

In other words just run it with npx nodemon index.js

score 0 · Answer 24 · answered Jul 17 '23 at 18:06

This is the right way

{
  "name": "cyber",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "",
  "scripts": {
    "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1",
    "start": "nodemon --exec ts-node src/app.ts"
  },
  "keywords": [],
  "author": "",
  "license": "ISC",
  "dependencies": {
    "@tensorflow/tfjs": "^4.8.0"
  }
}

Rajesh Paramanandam · Answer 25 · 2022-12-20T10:40:29.043

-1

Just use the command : npx nodemon app.js

This is very simple ! and we can run the below command without altering the package.json file in your project

edited Dec 20 '22 at 10:40

answered Dec 20 '22 at 10:39

Rajesh Paramanandam

1
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How to execute the start script with Nodemon

25 Answers25