localhost vs concurrently
concurrently starts every dev command in one terminal. localhost starts, stops and restarts each one on its own, in dependency order, with logs kept per Run.
An npm package that runs several commands at once in one terminal, each output line prefixed with its name.
Where concurrently wins
- It lives in
package.json, so everyone on the team gets it withnpm install. - It works in scripts and CI, where there is no window.
Where localhost fits better
- Start and stop each Service on its own, and see which one failed and why.
- Dependencies wait until a Service is Running before the next one starts.
- Logs kept per Run, and Projects that aren’t Node.js.
In one line
- Choose concurrently for
- A one-line
npm run devfor the whole team, in CI too - Choose localhost for
- Per-Service control, Dependencies and kept logs
localhost is a free, open-source desktop app that runs your own commands, no Docker required, and isn’t a production or remote-server dashboard. Install it, start with the quick start, or read the guides.