Registry / devops / run-node-webpack-plugin

run-node-webpack-plugin

library2.0.0jsnpmunverified

Webpack plugin that automatically starts and restarts a Node.js script after webpack compilation. Version 2.0.0 requires webpack ^5.0.0 and ships TypeScript types. Key differentiators: runs scripts only on actual bundle changes (not every recompilation), supports custom script selection, watch-mode control, and process argument configuration. More efficient than nodemon/pm2 for webpack dev workflows. Actively maintained on GitHub.

devops

npm install run-node-webpack-plugin

github ↗package ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · RUN-NODE-WEBPACK-P

run-node-webpack-plugin

devopsjavascriptv2.0.0

Install

—

Import

—

Disk

—

Pass rate

0/ 6

Env Coverage0 / 6

glibc

18–22

musl

18–22

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

tested against v? · npm install

Install × environment matrix

Each cell = how many times install + import succeeded across repeated harness runs. Partial = flaky.
glibc = Debian/Ubuntu slim · musl = Alpine Linux

musl

node 18–226 runs

build_error

glibc

node 18–226 runs

build_error

Code

Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

RunNodeWebpackPlugin

✓ import RunNodeWebpackPlugin from 'run-node-webpack-plugin'

✗ const { RunNodeWebpackPlugin } = require('run-node-webpack-plugin')

Default export; must use default import. Named import or destructured require will fail.

RunNodeWebpackPlugin (CommonJS)

✓ const RunNodeWebpackPlugin = require('run-node-webpack-plugin');

CJS require is supported; the default export is the plugin constructor.

Types (if needed)

✓ import RunNodeWebpackPlugin from 'run-node-webpack-plugin';

✗ import { RunNodeWebpackPluginOptions } from 'run-node-webpack-plugin'

TypeScript types are bundled but not exported as named types; use default import and infer types from constructor.

Basic webpack config for Node.js server that restarts after each compilation using RunNodeWebpackPlugin.

const RunNodeWebpackPlugin = require('run-node-webpack-plugin'); const path = require('path'); module.exports = { target: 'node', entry: './src/server.js', output: { path: path.resolve(__dirname, 'dist'), filename: 'server.js' }, plugins: [ new RunNodeWebpackPlugin() ] };

Debug

Known issues

breakingVersion 2.x requires webpack 5; incompatible with webpack 4.

fix

Upgrade to webpack 5 or use run-node-webpack-plugin@1.x for webpack 4.

affects: >=2.0.0

gotchaDefault script selection may fail if multiple output files exist and neither 'server.js' nor 'index.js' is among them.

fix

Explicitly set the 'scriptToRun' option to the desired output filename or external script path.

affects: >=1.0.0

gotchaPlugin does not kill child processes gracefully by default; process may remain running if webpack exits abruptly.

fix

Use 'processKillSignal' option (e.g., 'SIGTERM') or handle process termination in your script.

affects: >=1.0.0

gotchaWhen 'runOnlyOnChanges' is true (default), script restarts only if output files change; watch mode with no file changes will not restart.

fix

Set 'runOnlyOnChanges' to false if you need restarts on every recompilation (e.g., when using loaders that affect output but not files).

affects: >=1.0.0

Errors

Common errors & fixes

TypeError: RunNodeWebpackPlugin is not a constructor

Using named import instead of default import in ESM context.

fix

Use default import: import RunNodeWebpackPlugin from 'run-node-webpack-plugin'

Error: Cannot find module 'webpack'

Webpack is not installed or version mismatch (plugin expects webpack 5).

fix

Install webpack 5: npm install webpack@^5.0.0 --save-dev

The plugin does not restart the script after changes

Default 'runOnlyOnChanges' is true but no changes detected in watched scripts, or 'scriptsToWatch' may not include the changed file.

fix

Set 'runOnlyOnChanges' to false or ensure 'scriptsToWatch' includes the correct output filenames.

Upgrade

Version history

2.0.0latest on npm

Audit

Dependencies

webpackrequiredPeer dependency; plugin is designed as a webpack plugin and requires webpack 5+

Agent activity

8 hits · last 30 days

node

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/rdoo/run-node-webpack-plugin ↗

packagehttps://www.npmjs.com/package/run-node-webpack-plugin ↗