live-server

1.2.2 verified Sat Apr 25 auth: no javascript maintenance

Simple development HTTP server with live reload capability. Version 1.2.2 (latest stable; last released in 2019, no longer actively maintained). It automatically reloads the browser upon file changes, supports CSS injection without full reload, and requires no browser plugins. Key differentiators: zero-config setup, CLI-driven, supports SPA fallback, CORS, HTTPS, and custom middleware. Alternative to browsersync or webpack-dev-server but more minimal and focused on static file serving with live reload.

Common errors

error Error: Cannot find module 'live-server' ↓

cause live-server not installed globally or locally

fix

Run npm install -g live-server

error port already in use ↓

cause Default port 8080 is occupied

fix

Use --port=OTHER_PORT to specify a different port

error Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED ↓

cause live-server not running or wrong port

fix

Ensure live-server is running and check the port

Warnings

breaking live-server v1.2.0 dropped support for Node.js <6.0 ↓

fix Upgrade to Node.js 6+ or use live-server@1.1.1

deprecated --ignorePattern option is deprecated in favor of --ignore ↓

fix Use --ignore instead of --ignorePattern

gotcha live-server may not work with certain file watchers on Windows due to path separator issues ↓

fix Use forward slashes or double-backslashes in watch/ignore paths

Install

npm install live-server

yarn add live-server

pnpm add live-server

Imports

liveServer
wrong
```
const { liveServer } = require('live-server')
```
correct
```
import liveServer from 'live-server'
```
Default export; CommonJS usage: const liveServer = require('live-server').default or use the CLI directly.

Quickstart

Start live-server with custom port, suppress browser launch, and quiet mode for minimal output.

// Install globally via npm: npm install -g live-server
// In your project directory, run:
live-server --port=3000 --no-browser --quiet