Question 1

How do I use chokidar-cli with npm scripts in package.json?

Accepted Answer

Use escaped double quotes for cross-platform compatibility, as shown in the README example: 'chokidar "**/*.js" -c "npm run build"'. This ensures proper argument parsing across different shells and operating systems.

Question 2

Chokidar-cli vs nodemon: which is better for watching files?

Accepted Answer

Chokidar-cli is more flexible for custom command execution and cross-platform use, while nodemon is tailored for restarting Node.js apps. Choose chokidar-cli if you need to trigger arbitrary shell commands beyond app restarts.

Question 3

How to debounce commands in chokidar-cli to avoid multiple runs?

Accepted Answer

Use the --debounce flag with a timeout in milliseconds, e.g., 'chokidar "**/*.js" -c "npm run build" --debounce 400'. This delays command execution until changes stop, preventing rapid successive triggers.

Question 4

Can chokidar-cli watch files over a network share?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but you must enable polling mode with --polling, as noted in the help text. Be aware that this can increase CPU usage and use --poll-interval to adjust frequency for better performance.

Question 5

How to ignore certain files or directories with chokidar-cli?

Accepted Answer

Use the --ignore flag with a pattern, such as 'chokidar "**/*.js" --ignore "node_modules/**"'. The pattern can be a glob or regex, and it tests the full path for exclusions.

Question 6

What happens if the command executed by chokidar-cli fails?

Accepted Answer

Chokidar-cli doesn't provide built-in error handling or retry logic; it simply runs the command and outputs results. You need to implement error management within your shell command or script for robustness.

chokidar-cli

What is chokidar-cli?

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