dev-process-manager

dev-process-manager (dpm / dev-pm) is a Node.js process manager for local development environments that need to run multiple processes at once. It can be integrated into any existing Node.js project with a single config file.

A typical web application is rarely a single process during development. You might need an API, a frontend dev server, a background worker, an asset watcher and a database — all running together, in the right order, with their logs interleaved in one place. dev-process-manager makes that a one-command experience.

dpm start all

Highlights

• One command to run your whole stack — start every process your app needs together.
• Ordered startup — use waitOn to wait for build artifacts, TCP ports or databases before a process boots.
• Groups & aliases — address processes individually, by alias, or as named @groups.
• Automatic crash recovery — crashed processes restart with exponential backoff.
• Config as code — a single typed dev-pm.config.ts describes everything.
• Environment files — .env and .env.local are read (with variable expansion) to resolve waitOn resources.

How it works

dev-process-manager runs a lightweight daemon in the background. The dev-pm command line talks to that daemon over a local socket. When you run dpm start, the daemon is started automatically if it is not already running, launches the requested processes and keeps them alive. Logs are buffered by the daemon so you can attach to them at any time with dpm logs.

Where to go next

• New here? Start with the Use Cases to see where dev-process-manager fits.
• Weighing your options? See the Comparison with alternatives (pm2, terminal tabs, Docker Compose and more).
• Ready to try it? Follow the Getting Started guide.
• Looking for the full config surface? See the Configuration reference.
• Want to copy-paste something real? Jump to Examples.

note

This project is developed and maintained by Vivid Planet Software GmbH and published on npm as dev-process-manager.