bash
node --watch app.jsNotes
Built-in watch mode is stable in current Node releases and useful for local development.
Node.js CLI Recipes
Node.js CLI recipes for watch mode, built-in tests, REPL usage, shebang scripts, and practical automation patterns.
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Watch Mode, Test Runner, and REPL
Use watch mode, built-in tests, the REPL, and script recipes.
bash
node --watch-path=src --watch-path=config app.jsNotes
Good for reducing restart noise in larger projects.
bash
node --testNotes
Useful for projects using the native node:test module.
bash
node --test --watchNotes
Convenient during development of native test suites.
bash
nodeNotes
Run Node without arguments to start the REPL.
bash
NODE_REPL_HISTORY=$HOME/.node_repl_history nodeNotes
Helpful when you use the REPL heavily across sessions.
bash
#!/usr/bin/env node
console.log('hello from a Node CLI')Notes
Place this at the top of executable JS files to create custom CLIs.
Pass script args after double dash
Separate Node flags from script arguments.
bashANYnodeargumentscli
bash
node --trace-warnings app.js -- --port=3000 --verboseNotes
`--` tells Node to stop parsing its own flags and pass the rest to your script.
More in Node.js CLI
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Node.js CLI security cheat sheets for the permission model, network and filesystem restrictions, eval hardening, and TLS/crypto settings.
Node.js CLI Performance & Profiling
Node.js CLI performance cheat sheets for memory tuning, CPU profiling, heap analysis, coverage, and source-map-aware debugging.
Node.js CLI Environment & Config
Node.js CLI environment and config cheat sheets for NODE_OPTIONS, runtime environment variables, proxy settings, CA certificates, and launch patterns.
Node.js CLI
Node.js CLI cheat sheets for runtime flags, debugging, watch mode, test runner, environment variables, and production execution patterns.