What is the nodemon Package in Node.js?

nodemon is a utility designed for Node.js applications that automates the development process by monitoring changes in the source code and restarting the server upon detection. This tool significantly enhances the development experience by reducing the manual overhead of server restarts, making it an essential part of any Node.js development toolkit.

Key Features of nodemon

Automatic Restart: nodemon watches your file system for changes in the application code. When it detects a change, it automatically restarts the Node.js application, ensuring that your application stays up-to-date and you can continue developing without interruption.

Configuration Options: You have the flexibility to configure nodemon to suit your specific needs. You can choose to watch specific files or ignore certain files and directories. Additionally, you can customize the commands used when a change is detected.

Customizable: nodemon can be customized using a configuration file like nodemon.json or by using command-line options. This allows you to tailor its behavior to your project's requirements.

Support for Different File Types: While it is primarily designed for JavaScript files, nodemon can also watch files with other extensions such as .json, .js, .mjs, and .ts (TypeScript).

Installation

To install nodemon, you have two options: globally or as a development dependency in your project.

Globally:

npx npm install -g nodemon

As a Development Dependency:

npx npm install --save-dev nodemon

Usage

To run your application with nodemon, you can use the following command:

nodemon app.js When you make changes and save files that nodemon is watching, it will automatically restart your application, ensuring that your development process is as smooth as possible.

Example Configuration: nodemon.json

Here is an example of a nodemon.json configuration file:

{  "ignore": [    "node_modules"  ],  "watch": [    "src"  ],  "ext": "js,json",  "exec": "node src/index.js