Nodejs Nodemon Not Restarting My Server

If you're here, chances are you've encountered a common frustration among Node.js developers: Nodemon not restarting your server when expected. No worries, we're here to help you troubleshoot this issue and get your development environment back on track!

Nodemon is a handy tool that monitors your Node.js application for any changes and automatically restarts the server to reflect those changes. However, sometimes it may not function as intended due to various reasons. Let's delve into some common causes and solutions for Nodemon not restarting your server.

One common reason for Nodemon failing to restart your server is when the tool is not installed globally. Ensure that Nodemon is installed globally on your system by running the following command:

npm install -g nodemon

If Nodemon is already installed globally, but you're still facing issues, it might be due to file watching limitations on your operating system. You can try increasing the system's file watching capabilities by running the following commands based on your OS:

For macOS and Linux:

echo fs.inotify.max_user_watches=524288 | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf && sudo sysctl -p

For Windows (run as administrator in PowerShell):

npm config set script-shell "C:\Program Files\git\bin\bash.exe"

Additionally, check if you are running Nodemon with the correct command. Make sure you're using the correct syntax when starting your server with Nodemon. The typical format is:

nodemon your_app.js

Another common pitfall is having Nodemon running multiple instances on different ports. Check if there are any other instances of Nodemon or Node.js servers currently running that might conflict with your intended server restart.

Furthermore, ensure that the file you are editing is included in the files Nodemon is configured to watch. You can explicitly specify the files to monitor by creating a nodemon.json file in your project's root directory with the following content:

{
  "watch": ["file1.js", "file2.js"]
}

Lastly, if none of the above solutions work, consider updating Nodemon to the latest version by running:

npm update -g nodemon

In conclusion, troubleshooting Nodemon not restarting your server can be a daunting task, but by following these steps and paying attention to the details, you should be able to resolve the issue swiftly. Remember, software development is a journey of continuous learning and problem-solving, so don't be discouraged by occasional bumps in the road. Happy coding!