devd
A local web server for developers with livereload, reverse proxying, and latency simulation.
What is devd?
Devd is a lightweight, cross-platform local web server designed specifically for development workflows. It combines static file serving, reverse proxying, and live reloading into a single, terminal-friendly tool, making it ideal for modern web development environments.
Web developers and engineers working on local development and testing of web applications, particularly those who prefer terminal-based workflows and need to simulate network conditions or manage multiple services.
Developers choose devd for its simplicity, self-contained binary with no dependencies, and integrated features like live reload for reverse-proxied apps, network simulation, and lightweight virtual hosting without system configuration.
Overview
A local webserver for developers
Use Cases
Best For
- Serving static files with automatic browser reloading when files change.
- Reverse proxying to multiple local upstream services (like APIs) from a single domain.
- Simulating network conditions such as high latency and low bandwidth for realistic testing.
- Setting up lightweight virtual hosting using localhost subdomains without editing system files.
- Integrating with build tools like modd to trigger rebuilds and browser reloads on filesystem changes.
- Developing in constrained environments (e.g., Docker) where installing Node or Python is undesirable, using a single binary.
Not Ideal For
- Projects requiring advanced SSL/TLS management with custom certificates or validation beyond self-signed certs.
- Teams needing complex domain routing with wildcard domains, custom DNS, or extensive URL rewriting.
- Developers who prefer GUI-based tools or extensive configuration via files over command-line flags.
- Environments where WebSocket support or other real-time protocol handling is essential for development.
Pros & Cons
Pros
A single statically compiled executable with no external dependencies, available for macOS, Linux, and Windows, making it easy to deploy in constrained environments like Docker without installing Node or Python.
Features colorized, multi-line logs with detailed timing and headers, designed for readability in the terminal without config files or daemonization, streamlining development workflows.
Injects a script into HTML pages to automatically reload CSS or full pages on file changes, and supports triggering reloads for reverse-proxied applications by watching source directories, as shown in the -w flag examples.
Uses localhost subdomains for virtual hosting without editing system files like /etc/hosts, simplifying multi-service development with route specifications like 'api=http://localhost:8888'.
Cons
Does not validate upstream SSL certificates when reverse proxying, which the README admits could be a security issue if used in environments where cert validation matters, restricting its use with untrusted services.
Livereload is disabled if the closing head tag isn't found within the first 30kb of the HTML file, potentially breaking for large or minified files, a noted limitation in the README.
Lacks support for wildcard domains, custom DNS configurations, or complex URL rewriting beyond basic path and subdomain routing, which may not cater to sophisticated development setups with multiple custom domains.
Frequently Asked Questions
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