Have you ever found yourself wishing for a simpler way to automatically reload your Node.js server whenever you make changes to your code? If so, you're in luck! With the release of Node.js version 18.11.0, there's a new feature that can replace the popular utility Nodemon.
--watch
That's right, the --watch flag has arrived on the scene. This flag allows you to specify a file that you want Node.js to keep an eye on. And, if any changes are made to that file, Node.js will automatically restart the process for you.
Not only is the --watch flag super simple to use, it's also built right into Node.js, so you don't need to worry about installing any additional packages. To use it, just add the flag to the command you use to run your Node.js script.
For example, instead of running the following command:
bash
nodemon index.jsyou can now use:
bash
node --watch index.js--watch-path
It's also worth mentioning that the --watch flag has a sibling, the --watch-path flag. This allows you to specify a specific directory to watch, rather than just files. How cool is that?!
Say goodbye to Nodemon and hello to a faster and smoother development process.