Node.js Command Line Options

Node.js provides a variety of command line options that allow developers to control the behavior of the Node.js runtime. Understanding these options can significantly enhance your application's performance and assist in effective debugging.

Key Concepts

• Command Line Options: These parameters can be passed to the Node.js executable when you run your JavaScript file from the terminal, modifying the behavior of the Node.js process.

Common Command Line Options

1. -v or --version
   • Displays the current version of Node.js installed.
   • Example: node -v
2. -h or --help
   • Displays help information about Node.js command line options.
   • Example: node -h
3. --inspect
   • Enables the debugger, allowing you to debug your application using Chrome DevTools.
   • Example: node --inspect yourFile.js
4. --max-old-space-size
   • Sets the maximum heap size for your application, useful for memory-intensive applications.
   • Example: node --max-old-space-size=4096 yourFile.js
5. --experimental-modules
   • Enables support for ECMAScript modules (ESM) in Node.js.
   • Example: node --experimental-modules yourFile.mjs

Using Command Line Options

• Multiple options can be combined when running a Node.js application.
• Example: node --inspect --max-old-space-size=4096 yourFile.js

Conclusion

Command line options in Node.js are powerful tools for customizing the execution environment of your applications. Familiarizing yourself with these options can greatly enhance your development and debugging experience.