Question 1

How to set up PM2 for zero downtime deployments?

Accepted Answer

Use the pm2 reload command to hot-reload applications without downtime, or start apps in cluster mode with -i max to leverage multiple processes. Ensure your application handles graceful shutdowns and connection draining for best results.

Question 2

PM2 vs Docker for running Node.js apps

Accepted Answer

PM2 is a process manager focused on keeping Node.js apps alive with features like clustering, while Docker provides containerization for isolation and portability. They can be combined using pm2-runtime for hardened Docker environments, but PM2 alone doesn't offer the same isolation benefits.

Question 3

How to rotate logs in PM2?

Accepted Answer

Install the pm2-logrotate module via pm2 install pm2-logrotate, then configure it to manage log file sizes and retention. This adds rotation capabilities beyond the basic pm2 logs command for raw or JSON output.

Question 4

Can PM2 manage non-Node.js processes?

Accepted Answer

PM2 primarily supports Node.js and Bun, but it can start binaries or scripts in other languages like Python or Ruby via the pm2 start command. However, features like cluster mode and optimized reloads are best suited for Node.js/Bun applications.

Question 5

PM2 or Kubernetes for scaling Node.js applications?

Accepted Answer

PM2 is ideal for single-server or small-scale deployments with built-in load balancing, while Kubernetes excels at distributed, multi-node orchestration with auto-scaling. For larger, cloud-native setups, Kubernetes might be more appropriate, but PM2 can run inside containers as a runtime layer.

Question 6

Is PM2 free for commercial use?

Accepted Answer

PM2 itself is open-source under AGPL 3.0, which allows commercial use but may require sharing modifications. The PM2+ monitoring dashboard is a separate paid service, so core features are free, but advanced monitoring incurs costs.

PM2

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