Node.js: How to attach to a running process and to debug the server with a console?

Question

I use \'forever\' to run my application. I want to attach to the running environment to inspect my application. So what can I do?

Answer 1

Windows users

If you are on Windows that doesn't support POSIX signals, you can use this workaround from another cmd.

node -e "process._debugProcess(PID)"

---

For a detailed guide, or to set up debugging in VSCode, follow these simple steps:

1. In VSCode, open launch.json configuration or create new by clicking on the wheel
   ^{(this is the debug view CtrlShiftD)}

2. The node will listen on port 9229 by default, so add this configuration:

{
  "type": "node",
  "request": "attach",
  "name": "Attach to 9229",
  "port": 9229
},

3. Open Task Manager and locate the PID of your node process
   I could identify my by the "build" folder where the index.js is.
4. open another cmd or git-bash and run this command,
   where 21392 is the PID of your process.

node -e "process._debugProcess(21392)"

5. you should see this
6. Start debugging from VSCode Attach to 9229
   

Everything should be ready now.