How to watch and reload ts-node when TypeScript files change

👋 Hey there tech enthusiasts! 👩‍💻👨‍💻

Have you ever wanted to run a development server with TypeScript and an Angular application without having to manually transpile your TS files every time? 🤔 Well, you're in luck! 🍀 In this blog post, we're going to dive deep into the world of ts-node and explore how you can watch and reload your app or server whenever your TypeScript files change. 🔄💥

The problem at hand is that running .ts files with ts-node is pretty straightforward, but how can we also watch these .ts files and automatically reload our app or server? 🤷‍♀️ That's where things got a little tricky... until now! 😎

🔍 So, let's take a closer look at some easy solutions to this common issue:

Solution 1: The "nodemon" Approach

One way to achieve this is by using a tool called "nodemon". This handy tool can watch for file changes and automatically restart your app or server whenever a file is modified. 🔄🔧 Here's how you can get started:

1. Install nodemon globally on your machine by running the following command:

npm install -g nodemon

1. Once nodemon is installed, you can use it with ts-node by running the following command:

nodemon --exec ts-node [your entry file].ts

This command tells nodemon to execute ts-node with your entry file and watch for any changes. Whenever a .ts file is modified, nodemon will automatically reload your app or server. 🚀

Solution 2: Using "ts-node-dev"

Another great option is to use a package called "ts-node-dev". Similar to nodemon, this package allows you to watch and reload your TypeScript files automatically.

1. Install ts-node-dev as a development dependency by running the following command:

   npm install --save-dev ts-node-dev

2. Once installed, you can use the following command to watch and reload your TypeScript files:

   ts-node-dev --respawn --transpileOnly [your entry file].ts

   This command will watch your .ts files and recompile them on-the-fly whenever changes occur. It will then restart your app or server using the newly compiled files. 🔄🔨

And there you have it! Two simple solutions to watch and reload your ts-node application when your TypeScript files change. 🎉💻

But wait! We're not done just yet... 😉

🌟CALL-TO-ACTION🌟

Now that you have the power to watch and reload ts-node, why not share your newfound knowledge or experiences with our tech community? Let us know in the comments below if you found these solutions helpful, or if you have any other suggestions for tackling this challenge. Let's keep the conversation going! 💬🚀

Happy coding! 🎯✨