Can I add a debug script to NPM?

I have edited my package.json to customize the "start" script so it adds the --debug flag to node:

 "scripts": { "start": "node --debug server.js" } 

Is there a way of adding new scripts for example a debug script that would do what my customized "start" is doing right now?

I'm looking to be able to execute:

npm debug 

5 Answers

In your package.json define the script

"scripts": { "debug": "node --inspect server.js" } 

And then you can use npm's run-script

npm run-script debug 

or the shorter version

npm run debug 

From the nodejs docs:

The legacy debugger has been deprecated as of Node 7.7.0. Please use --inspect and Inspector instead.

So starting from Node 7.7.0v use --inspect

VS Code adds a debug button inline in the package.json file

1. Open package.json and click debug above scripts section

   

2. Select script to debug

   

3. Debugger should be attached

   

for remote debug get npm-cli.js path

> npm --verbose npm info it worked if it ends with ok npm verb cli [ npm verb cli 'C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe', npm verb cli 'C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node_modules\\npm\\bin\\npm-cli.js', npm verb cli '--verbose' npm verb cli ] npm info using npm@6.14.14 npm info using node@v14.17.5 

then

node --inspect-brk "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node_modules\\npm\\bin\\npm-cli.js" run your-npm-script 

for mac or linux

➜ ~ npm --verbose npm info it worked if it ends with ok npm verb cli [ npm verb cli '/usr/local/Cellar/node@14/14.18.2/bin/node', npm verb cli '/usr/local/bin/npm', npm verb cli '--verbose' npm verb cli ] npm info using npm@6.14.15 npm info using node@v14.18.2 

node --inspect-brk "/usr/local/bin/npm" run your-npm-script 

1. In VS Code hit cmd+shift+p (or View > Command Palette...)
2. Type npm and select Debug: Debug npm Script
3. Hit enter and pick the script that you want from the scripts of package.json.