Start Server Webpack Plugin

start-server-webpack-plugin is a Webpack plugin designed to automatically launch a Node.js server process once Webpack's build completes, primarily for development environments. It allows developers to integrate server-side applications, such as Express, directly into their Webpack development workflow. The plugin supports features like Hot Module Replacement (HMR) for server-side code, debugging via Node.js arguments, and automatic server restarts on file changes. The current stable version is 2.2.5, however, the package has not been updated since March 2018, indicating it is no longer actively maintained. Newer Webpack versions (like Webpack 5) are not officially supported, leading users to seek alternatives or forks for compatibility. Key differentiators include its focused role in *starting* a server post-build, rather than providing a full development server like webpack-dev-server, and its ability to pass arguments directly to the Node.js process and the target script itself.