Node CLI Plus
npm script runner, debugger, and project tools for Node.js projects in VS Code — with AI-powered auto-fix support (GitHub Copilot & Claude Code).
Built for plain package.json workspaces: the root package is a project, and every npm workspace package becomes one too. Commands that need a project auto-detect it from the active file.
Keyboard shortcuts
All commands are bound under the Ctrl+Shift+N chord. Press Ctrl+Shift+N, release, then press the second key.
Note: Ctrl+Shift+N is VS Code's default New Window binding. This extension's chord takes priority, so use the menu (File → New Window) to open a new window, or remove the chord in Keyboard Shortcuts if you prefer the default behaviour.
Run & debug
| Command |
Shortcut |
What it does |
| Node: Debug Application |
Ctrl+Shift+N D |
Smart debug: attaches the browser debugger when the project depends on a web-server framework (express, fastify, nest, vite, ...), otherwise launches the script under the VS Code Node.js debugger |
| Node: Debug Build (Watch) |
Ctrl+Shift+N H |
Runs the build-watch script, serves the output with a static server, and attaches the browser debugger |
| Node: Serve Application |
Ctrl+Shift+N S |
Runs the dev/serve/start script in a managed terminal |
| Node: Restart Serve |
Ctrl+Shift+N R |
Restarts a running serve/watch terminal and re-attaches its debug session |
| Node: Build Project |
Ctrl+Shift+N B |
Runs the build script |
| Node: Build Project (Watch) |
Ctrl+Shift+N W |
Runs the build-watch script |
| Node: Test Project |
Ctrl+Shift+N T |
Runs the test script — offers "current test file only" when a test file is open |
| Node: Lint Project |
Ctrl+Shift+N L |
Runs ESLint directly and shows results in a webview (group by file/rule, filters, eslint --fix buttons) |
| Node: Update Packages |
Ctrl+Shift+N U |
npm-check-updates webview: pick packages, update package.json + install |
| Node: Run npm Script |
Ctrl+Shift+N N |
QuickPick over every npm script of every project |
| Command |
Shortcut |
What it does |
| Node: Check Build Errors |
Ctrl+Shift+N E |
Runs the build, parses tsc/esbuild/generic diagnostics into a webview with clickable file:line links |
| Node: Check Memory Leaks |
Ctrl+Shift+N K |
AST scan for Node-flavoured leaks: uncleared intervals/timeouts, unremoved listeners, un-unsubscribed RxJS subscriptions, nested subscribes, retained DOM refs, incomplete takeUntil Subjects |
| Node: Switch Source/Test File |
Ctrl+Shift+N Tab |
Jumps between foo.ts and foo.test.ts / foo.spec.js / … |
| Node: Manage JSON Configs |
Ctrl+Shift+N J |
Webview editors for ESLint rules and tsconfig compiler options (comments preserved) |
| Node: Setup .npmrc Auth Tokens |
Ctrl+Shift+N A |
Copies registry auth tokens from the workspace .npmrc into your global ~/.npmrc |
Housekeeping
| Command |
Shortcut |
What it does |
| npm: Install / Clean Install |
— |
npm install, with escalation prompts (clean → --force) |
| Check Dependencies |
— |
Verifies node_modules matches package.json on startup and branch switch |
| Check Tool Versions |
— |
Verifies node/npm/yarn/pnpm against the engines field |
| Close Terminals |
Ctrl+Shift+N C |
Multi-select close of extension-managed terminals |
A Node CLI + status bar button opens the command palette filtered to this extension.
Project model
- The workspace root
package.json is always a project (named after its name field, or root).
- When it declares
workspaces (array or { packages: [...] }), each workspace package with a package.json becomes an additional project.
- Project pickers offer Current project (detected from the active editor file) and Last used entries, and remember your choice per command.
Debug modes
nodeCliPlus.debug.mode selects how Node: Debug Application starts:
auto (default) — web-framework dependency detected → browser mode, otherwise Node inspector.browser — runs the dev script in a terminal, waits for the port (parsed from PORT=/--port/-p in the script, falling back to nodeCliPlus.debug.port), then launches Chrome/Edge/Firefox/Brave/Opera/Safari with DevTools attached.node — launches npm run <script> under VS Code's built-in Node.js debugger (runtimeExecutable: npm) — breakpoints work immediately, no port needed.
AI auto-fix
The Memory Leaks and Build Errors webviews show an Auto Fix button per issue and per file. It opens GitHub Copilot Chat or the Claude Code panel with a ready-made fix prompt (clipboard fallback). Configure with:
nodeCliPlus.ai.provider — copilot (default) or claudenodeCliPlus.ai.autoFixEnabled — show/hide the buttons
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
Description |
nodeCliPlus.debug.mode |
auto |
auto, browser, or node |
nodeCliPlus.debug.browser |
chrome |
Browser used for browser-mode debugging |
nodeCliPlus.debug.browserExecutablePath |
"" |
Override browser executable detection |
nodeCliPlus.debug.port |
3000 |
Fallback port for browser-mode debugging |
nodeCliPlus.buildWatch.outDir |
dist |
Directory served during debug build watch |
nodeCliPlus.buildWatch.servePort |
4173 |
Static server port for debug build watch |
nodeCliPlus.buildWatch.staticServerCommand |
npx serve {outDir} -l {port} |
Static server command template |
nodeCliPlus.test.watch |
false |
Prefer watch-style test scripts |
nodeCliPlus.checkDependencies.enabled |
true |
Dependency check on startup / branch switch |
nodeCliPlus.checkToolVersions.enabled |
true |
engines field check on startup |
nodeCliPlus.npm.installCommand |
"" |
Custom install command (e.g. pnpm install) |
nodeCliPlus.npm.cleanInstallCommand |
"" |
Custom clean-install command |
nodeCliPlus.ai.provider |
copilot |
AI assistant used for auto-fix |
nodeCliPlus.ai.autoFixEnabled |
true |
Show Auto Fix buttons in webviews |
Development
npm install
npm run compile # type-check + lint + bundle (dist/extension.js)
npm test # unit tests via @vscode/test-cli
Press F5 to launch an Extension Development Host with the extension loaded.
License
MIT
