# grunt-express-server [](https://travis-ci.org/ericclemmons/grunt-express-server)
> Simple grunt task for running an Express server that works great with LiveReload + Watch/Regarde
## Getting Started
This plugin requires Grunt `~0.4.0`
If you haven't used [Grunt](http://gruntjs.com/) before, be sure to check out the [Getting Started](http://gruntjs.com/getting-started) guide, as it explains how to create a [Gruntfile](http://gruntjs.com/sample-gruntfile) as well as install and use Grunt plugins. Once you're familiar with that process, you may install this plugin with this command:
```shell
npm install grunt-express-server --save-dev
```
One the plugin has been installed, it may be enabled inside your Gruntfile with this line of JavaScript:
```js
grunt.loadNpmTasks('grunt-express-server');
```
## The `express` task
### Setup
In your project's Gruntfile, you can create one or multiple servers:
```js
grunt.initConfig({
express: {
options: {
// Override defaults here
},
dev: {
options: {
script: 'path/to/dev/server.js'
}
},
prod: {
options: {
script: 'path/to/prod/server.js'
}
}
test: {
options: {
script: 'path/to/test/server.js'
}
}
}
});
```
You can override the default `options` either in the root of the `express` config
or within each individual server task.
### Default `options`
```js
express: {
options: {
// Will turn into: `node path/to/server.js ARG1 ARG2 ... ARGN`
args: [ ],
// Setting to `false` will effectively just run `node path/to/server.js`
background: true,
// Called if spawning the server fails
error: function(err, result, code) {},
// Called when the spawned server throws errors
fallback: function() {},
// Override node env's PORT
port: 3000
}
}
```
### Usage
#### Starting the server
If you have a server defined named `dev`, you can start the server by running `expess:dev`.
#### Stopping the server
Similarly, if you start the `dev` server with `express:dev`, you can stop the server
with `express:dev:stop`.
#### With [grunt-contrib-livereload](https://github.com/gruntjs/grunt-contrib-livereload)
```js
grunt.initConfig({
watch: {
express: {
files: [ 'path/to/files/to/watch/**.js' ],
tasks: [ 'express:dev', 'livereload' ]
}
}
});
grunt.registerTask('server', [ 'express:dev', 'livereload', 'watch' ])
```
This will let you override `grunt server` with a LiveReload-able Express Server.
Finally, you can make changes to your API and watch the JSON change in your browser!
#### With [grunt-contrib-watch](https://github.com/gruntjs/grunt-contrib-watch)
```js
grunt.initConfig({
watch: {
express: {
files: [ '**/*.js' ],
tasks: [ 'express:dev' ],
options: {
nospawn: true //Without this option specified express won't be reloaded
}
}
}
});
grunt.registerTask('server', [ 'express:dev', 'watch' ])
```
## 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 and test your code using [Grunt](http://gruntjs.com/).
## Release History
### v0.3.0
- `express` is now a multitask with customizable options, better error handling and `:stop` task
### v0.2.0
- Change `express-server` task to `express`
- Config is set via `express: '...'` instead of `server: { script: '...' } `
### v0.1.0
- Initial import from [Genesis Skeleton](https://github.com/ericclemmons/genesis-skeleton) & release