why-is-node-running

Node.js is running but you don't know why? why-is-node-running is here to help you.

Installation

If you want to use why-is-node-running in your code, you can install it as a local dependency of your project. If you want to use it as a CLI, you can install it globally, or use npx to run it without installing it.

$3

Node.js 20.11 and above (ECMAScript modules):

``bash
npm install --save-dev why-is-node-running
`

Node.js 8 or higher (CommonJS):

`bash
npm install --save-dev why-is-node-running@v2.x
`

$3

`bash
npm install --global why-is-node-running
why-is-node-running /path/to/some/file.js
`

Alternatively if you do not want to install the package globally, you can run it with npx:

`bash
npx why-is-node-running /path/to/some/file.js
`

Usage (as a dependency)

`js
import whyIsNodeRunning from 'why-is-node-running' // should be your first import
import { createServer } from 'node:net'

function startServer () {
const server = createServer()
setInterval(() => {}, 1000)
server.listen(0)
}

startServer()
startServer()

// logs out active handles that are keeping node running
setImmediate(() => whyIsNodeRunning())
`

Save the file as example.js, then execute:

`bash
node ./example.js
`

Here's the output:

`
There are 4 handle(s) keeping the process running

Timeout

example.js:6 - setInterval(() => {}, 1000)
example.js:10 - startServer()

TCPSERVERWRAP

example.js:7 - server.listen(0)
example.js:10 - startServer()

Timeout

example.js:6 - setInterval(() => {}, 1000)
example.js:11 - startServer()

TCPSERVERWRAP

example.js:7 - server.listen(0)
example.js:11 - startServer()
`

Usage (as a CLI)

You can run why-is-node-running as a standalone if you don't want to include it inside your code. Sending SIGUSR1/SIGINFO signal to the process will produce the log. (Ctrl + T on macOS and BSD systems)

`bash
why-is-node-running /path/to/some/file.js
`

`
probing module /path/to/some/file.js
kill -SIGUSR1 31115 for logging
`

To trigger the log:

`
kill -SIGUSR1 31115
`

Usage (with Node.js' --import option)

You can also use Node's --import option to preload why-is-node-running:

`bash
node --import why-is-node-running/include /path/to/some/file.js
``

The steps are otherwise the same as the above CLI section

License

MIT