denon
A feature-packed file watcher and script runner for Deno applications that automatically restarts on changes.
What is denon?
Denon is a file watcher and script runner for Deno applications that automatically restarts the application when changes are detected. It serves as a direct replacement for the `deno` command, providing enhanced development workflow with zero configuration overhead. It solves the problem of manually restarting Deno servers during development by monitoring files and triggering restarts automatically.
Deno developers who want an improved development experience with automatic restarts and script management. It's particularly useful for those building web servers, APIs, or any Deno application that requires frequent reloads during development.
Developers choose Denon because it's a feature-rich, Deno-native alternative to nodemon with extensive configuration options, script support, and seamless integration. Its drop-in replacement design means no changes to code or workflow, while offering more flexibility than basic file watchers.
Overview
👀 Monitor any changes in your Deno application and automatically restart.
Use Cases
Best For
- Developing Deno web servers with automatic restart on code changes
- Managing multiple Deno scripts with different permissions and environments
- Projects requiring configurable file watching with ignore patterns
- Teams wanting a consistent script runner across development environments
- Deno applications that need environment-specific configurations
- Developers transitioning from Node.js/nodemon to Deno ecosystems
Not Ideal For
- Production environments where process supervisors like systemd or PM2 are preferred for reliability
- Projects using multiple runtimes (e.g., Node.js and Python) needing a cross-platform file watcher
- Teams stuck on Deno versions older than 1.6.0 due to compatibility constraints
Pros & Cons
Pros
Functions as a direct substitute for the `deno` command without code changes, enabling seamless integration into existing workflows, as highlighted in the README's usage examples.
Supports JSON, YAML, and TypeScript config files with script definitions, environment variables, and watcher settings, detailed in the Configuration section for flexible project setup.
Manages multiple scripts with per-script permissions, import maps, and Deno flags, inspired by velociraptor, enhancing development efficiency through structured script running.
Offers customizable watcher with glob patterns, ignore options, and interval controls, as shown in the Watcher options, making it adaptable to various project structures.
Cons
Only works with Deno projects, making it unsuitable for mixed-technology stacks or environments using other runtimes like Node.js, where tools like nodemon are more established.
Relies on Deno's unstable flag for configurations like import maps, which could lead to breaking changes with future Deno updates, as noted in the script options section.
Users may encounter 'Command not found' errors if PATH is not correctly set, requiring manual fixes as described in the FAQ, adding setup complexity for some environments.
Open Source Alternative To
denon is an open-source alternative to the following products:
Frequently Asked Questions
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