Running a node express server using webpack-dev-server

Question

I\'m using webpack to run my react frontend successfully using the following config:

{
    name: \'client\',
    entry: \'./scripts/main.js\',
    output: {
         


        

Answer 1

Since webpack-dev-server is just a tiny express server with compile on change and hot reload.

So, if you already got a express server for backend API, just merge the compile on change and hot reload into your express server.

Then after take a look at the package.json of webpack-dev-server, i find the key is just webpack-dev-middleware

const express = require('express'); //your original BE server
const app = express();

const webpack = require('webpack');
const middleware = require('webpack-dev-middleware'); //webpack hot reloading middleware
const compiler = webpack({ .. webpack options .. }); //move your `devServer` config from `webpack.config.js`


app.use(middleware(compiler, {
  // webpack-dev-middleware options
}));

app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Example app listening on port 3000!'))

So, when you run your BE server, it will compile all the things using webpack, and watch for changes, LOL ~

Also, add webpack-hot-middleware for hot reloading function, see Hot Module Replacement