Supercharge Your Web Development with Auto Reload Backend

Are you tired of constantly switching between your code editor and browser, manually restarting your Node.js server, and refreshing your web pages? Say goodbye to these productivity killers with Auto Reload Backend - a powerful duo of a Visual Studio Code extension and a browser extension that work together seamlessly!

What is Auto Reload Backend?

Auto Reload Backend is a comprehensive solution that revolutionizes your web development workflow. It consists of two parts:

1. A Visual Studio Code extension

2. A browser extension (available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari)

When used together, they automatically reload your Node.js backend and refresh your browser when file changes are detected, eliminating the need for manual restarts and browser refreshes.

🚀 Key Features

• Automatic Node.js Server Restart: Instantly restarts your backend when server-side files change

• Browser Auto-Refresh: Automatically reloads your browser for frontend updates

• WebSocket Communication: Establishes a fast, reliable connection between VS Code and your browser

• Multi-Language Support: Works with JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, EJS, React, Vue, Svelte, and more

• Customizable Settings: Tailor the extension to your specific project needs

• Visual Feedback: Clear status indicators in VS Code for server and connection status

🛠️ Requirements

• Visual Studio Code v1.60.0 or higher

• Node.js v12.0.0 or higher

• A compatible web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari)

📦 Installation and Setup

Follow these steps to get Auto Reload Backend up and running:

1. Install the VS Code Extension:

   • Open Visual Studio Code

   • Go to the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P, then type "Extensions")

   • Search for "Auto Reload Backend"

   • Click Install

2. Install the Browser Extension:

   • Go to your browser's extension store

   • Search for "Auto Reload Backend"

   • Install

3. Activate the VS Code Extension:

   • Open your web project in VS Code

   • Look for the "Auto Reload Active" button in the VS Code status bar

   • Click the button to activate the extension (it should turn green)

4. Activate the Browser Extension:

   • Click on the Auto Reload Backend icon in your browser's toolbar

   • Ensure it's activated (the icon should be highlighted)

5. Establish the Connection:

   • With both extensions active, they will automatically attempt to connect

   • When successfully connected, you'll see a notification in both VS Code and your browser

6. Start Coding:

   • Begin making changes to your code

   • Watch as your Node.js server automatically restarts and your browser refreshes with your changes!

🔧 Usage

Once both extensions are installed and connected:

1. Make changes to your code in VS Code

2. Save the file

3. The VS Code extension detects the change and signals the browser extension

4. Your Node.js server restarts automatically (if server-side files changed)

5. Your browser refreshes automatically to show the latest changes

The "Auto Reload Active" button in VS Code serves as a status indicator:

• Green: Auto-reload is active and functioning

• Red: Auto-reload is inactive

• Yellow: Auto-reload is active but there might be a connection issue

⚙️ Configuration

You can customize the VS Code extension's behavior in your VS Code settings:

{
  "autoReloadBackend.websocketPort": 8080,
  "autoReloadBackend.watchFolders": ["src", "public"],
  "autoReloadBackend.fileTypes": [".js", ".ts", ".html", ".css"]
}

• websocketPort: Set the port for the WebSocket server (default: 8080)

• watchFolders: Specify which folders to watch for changes

• fileTypes: Define which file types should trigger a reload

Troubleshooting

If you experience any issues:

1. Ensure both the VS Code and browser extensions are up to date

2. Check that both extensions are activated

3. Verify that your Node.js server is running

4. Try deactivating and reactivating both extensions

5. Check your firewall settings if you're having connection issues

Conclusion

Auto Reload Backend is a game-changer for web developers. By automating the reload process for both your backend and frontend, you'll save countless hours and maintain your coding flow. With the VS Code extension and browser extension working in tandem, you can focus on what matters most - writing great code. Give it a try today and experience the future of web development productivity!