jsview

Run a JavaScript file and instantly preview the result in your browser with automatic reload.

jsview is a lightweight CLI tool that starts a local server, opens your browser, and reloads the page whenever your JavaScript file is saved.

Perfect for quickly testing small scripts without setting up a full project or dev server.

Installation

Install globally with npm:

npm install -g jsview

Usage

Run a JavaScript file and open it in your default browser:

jsview test.js

The browser will open automatically and reload whenever the file is saved.

Split Preview Mode (macOS)

You can open a split preview in Safari using:

jsview-p test.js

This will:

• start the local server
• open Safari
• position the browser window on the right half of the screen
• reload automatically when the file changes

Note: jsview-p currently supports macOS + Safari.

Example

Example test.js:

document.body.innerHTML = "<h1>Hello jsview</h1>";

Run:

jsview test.js

Edit the file and save — the browser will reload automatically.

How it works

jsview:

1. Starts a small local server
2. Generates an HTML page that runs your script
3. Opens the page in your browser
4. Watches the file for changes
5. Reloads the browser using WebSockets when the file is saved

Commands

| Command | Description | |--------|-------------| | jsview <file> | Run a JavaScript file and preview in the default browser | | jsview-p <file> | Run the file and open Safari in split preview mode |

Tips

For the best experience enable Auto Save in your editor so the page reloads automatically while you work.

Example in VS Code:

Settings → Files → Auto Save → After Delay

Requirements

• Node.js 18+
• macOS (for jsview-p split preview)

License

MIT