listen-spawn

Start a HTTP server which runs commands when pinged.

This is intended for development use only. It is supported and tested on Linux and Windows.

It was designed to allow for execution of semi-frequent commands (e.g. a blocking command, starting a browser). This is complimented by text editor specific plugins which make requests to the server.

Below is a screenshot of using Sublime Text 2 with sublime-request and a keyboard shortcut to launch browser-launcher tests.

Getting Started

Install the module globally with: npm install -g listen-spawn

# Navigate to your working directory 
cd my_project
 
# Set up listen-spawn to run `npm test` 
listen-spawn -- npm test # Listening at http://localhost:7060/ [...] 
 
# In a separate process, curl the server to run `npm test` again 
curl http://localhost:7060/ # > my_project@0.1.0 test [...] 

Integrating with Sublime Text 2

sublime-request

sublime-request is a Sublime Text 2 plugin which adds the command request. The following shortcut makes a curl request to http://localhost:7060/.

// Add the following to your "Key Bindings - User" inside the []
{ "keys": ["alt+x"], "command": "request", "args": {"open_args": ["http://localhost:7060/"]} }

Out of the box solution

The following shortcut invokes a curl request to http://localhost:7060/ when alt+x is pressed. The downside is this opens a panel every time it is executed.

// Add the following to your "Key Bindings - User" inside the []
{ "keys": ["alt+x"], "command": "exec", "args": {"cmd": ["curl", "http://localhost:7060/"]} }

File watching based solution

If you are looking for a solution which performs an action when a file changes rather than when a server is pinged, then you should checkout nodemon.

Documentation

listen-spawn installs a CLI endpoint via npm. It is good practice to always use -- to separate options from command as this can lead to unintended parsing.

$ listen-spawn
Usage: listen-spawn [options] -- command [args...]
Starts server and invokes command with arguments whenever touched.
 
Options:
  --port  Port to start server on  [default: 7060]

Windows caveats

If you are trying to run command prompt specific commands (e.g. echo), you will run into trouble. Unfortunately, child_process.spawn does not like to run these. To remedy this, you will need to run it via cmd /c.

E:\listen-spawn> REM This will fail
E:\listen-spawn> listen-spawn -- echo 1
24 Jul 01:30:41 - [listen-spawn] Listening at http://localhost:7060/
...
Error: spawn ENOENT
E:\listen-spawn> REM To make it run, use `cmd /c`
E:\listen-spawn> listen-spawn -- cmd /c echo 1
24 Jul 01:31:37 - [listen-spawn] Listening at http://localhost:7060/
24 Jul 01:31:37 - [listen-spawn] Starting new process -- cmd /c echo 1
1
24 Jul 01:31:37 - [listen-spawn] App exited cleanly

Examples

Run a specific test

$ listen-spawn -- mocha test/assert.js
20 Jun 04:17:58 - [listen-spawn] Listening at http://localhost:7060/
20 Jun 04:17:58 - [listen-spawn] Starting new process -- mocha test/assert.js
 
  ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․
 
  42 tests complete (16 ms)
 
20 Jun 04:17:58 - [listen-spawn] App exited cleanly

Script testing a browser launcher

$ listen-spawn -- node example/launch.js
20 Jun 04:20:25 - [listen-spawn] Listening at http://localhost:7060/
20 Jun 04:20:25 - [listen-spawn] Starting new process -- node example/launch.js
Starting browser
[...]

Donating

Support this project and others by twolfson via gittip.

Contributing

In lieu of a formal styleguide, take care to maintain the existing coding style. Add unit tests for any new or changed functionality. Lint via grunt and test via npm test.

License

Copyright (c) 2013 Todd Wolfson

Licensed under the MIT license.