Dev Router

One-click local dev server launcher. Scans your project folders, shows a dashboard, and lets you start/stop any project with a single click.

Why

You have 10+ local projects. Each needs npm run dev or python3 app.py, each runs on a different port, and half the time port 3000 is already taken. Dev Router fixes this:

• Auto-scan: Point it at your project folders — it finds everything with a package.json, Python entry point, or index.html
• One-click start: Hit Start → it runs the dev command and opens your browser when ready
• Port conflicts: Detects occupied ports before starting. Offers to kill the blocking process or start anyway
• Real-time logs: View stdout/stderr for each running project
• Zero config: No database, no config files, no dependencies. Just node server.js

Quick Start

git clone https://github.com/Angelov1314/dev-router.git
cd dev-router
node server.js
# → Dashboard opens at http://localhost:4000

By default, it scans the parent directory of wherever you cloned it. To scan custom directories:

# Scan multiple directories (comma-separated, optional label after colon)
DEV_ROUTER_DIRS="/Users/me/projects:Projects,/Users/me/work:Work" node server.js

# Change the dashboard port
DEV_ROUTER_PORT=8080 node server.js

Or edit PROJECT_DIRS directly in server.js.

macOS Desktop App

Create a double-clickable .app on your Desktop:

bash create-app.sh
# → Creates "Dev Router.app" on Desktop
# → Double-click to launch dashboard + open browser

If you use nvm or a non-standard Node path:

bash create-app.sh ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.0.0/bin/node

Supported Project Types

Type	How it's detected	Default Port
Next.js	next dev in package.json scripts	3000
Vite	vite in scripts	5173
Create React App	react-scripts in scripts	3000
Nuxt	nuxt in scripts	3000
Astro	astro in scripts	4321
Python (Flask)	app.py or server.py with requirements.txt	5000
Python (Django)	manage.py with requirements.txt	8000
Python (generic)	main.py with requirements.txt	—
Godot	project.godot in root	— (opens editor)
Static HTML	index.html in root	— (opens file)
Nested projects	Subdirectory with its own package.json	auto-detected

How It Works

server.js (Node.js, zero dependencies)
├── Project scanner     — walks PROJECT_DIRS, detects type by files present
├── Process manager     — spawn/kill child processes, capture stdout/stderr
├── Port detection      — parses lsof output to find occupied ports
└── HTTP API            — serves dashboard + REST endpoints

index.html (single file, no build step)
├── Dashboard grid      — cards grouped by directory
├── Type filter tabs    — Node.js / Python / Godot / Static
├── Port conflict modal — Kill & Start / Start Anyway / Cancel
└── Log viewer modal    — real-time scrolling output

API

All endpoints are on http://localhost:4000 (or your custom port).

Endpoint	Method	Body	Description
/api/status	GET	—	All projects with state, ports, conflicts
/api/ports	GET	—	All occupied TCP ports on system
/api/start	POST	{ name, forceStart? }	Start a project's dev server
/api/stop	POST	{ name }	Stop a running project
/api/kill-port	POST	{ port }	Kill whatever process holds a port
/api/logs?name=	GET	—	Log output for a running project
/api/folder	POST	{ path }	Open folder in system file manager

License

MIT