A simple auto-reloading tool for Electron apps during development that restarts the app or reloads windows when files change.
electron-reloader is a Node.js module that provides automatic file watching and reloading for Electron applications during development. It monitors changes to source files and automatically restarts the main Electron process or reloads renderer windows, significantly speeding up the development feedback loop. The tool requires minimal configuration and integrates easily into existing Electron projects.
Electron developers who want to improve their development workflow by automating application reloads when code changes, particularly those building desktop applications with frequent iterations.
Developers choose electron-reloader for its simplicity and reliability—it 'just works' with minimal setup, automatically detects which process files belong to, and offers flexible configuration options for advanced use cases like Webpack integration or custom ignore patterns.
Simple auto-reloading for Electron apps during development
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Intelligently distinguishes between main and renderer process files to apply correct reload strategies, eliminating manual configuration as highlighted in the README.
Works out of the box with zero-configuration by simply passing the module object, aligning with its 'just works' philosophy for quick integration.
Supports custom ignore patterns via Chokidar, allowing exclusion of specific files or directories, which is useful for complex projects or Webpack integration.
Offers a debug mode to log watched paths and provides specific guidance for use with Webpack watch mode, easing setup verification and toolchain compatibility.
As admitted in the README, it does not work correctly with transpiled main process files, limiting its use in modern TypeScript or Babel-based Electron projects.
Requires a try/catch block in the entry file to avoid module errors in production, adding unnecessary boilerplate that could confuse beginners or clutter builds.
Relies on full app restarts and page reloads without support for state preservation or incremental HMR, making it less efficient for complex UI development compared to specialized tools.