ritwickdey/vscode-live-server
Vscode Live Server
This is a local development server extension for VS Code that provides static file hosting and automatic browser reloading upon saving source files. It functions as a live reloading tool and static file web server, allowing developers to preview web pages locally with support for custom ports and root directories.
The project distinguishes itself by offering a local network preview server that exposes projects to other devices on the same wireless network via IP. It also includes a development proxy capable of adding Cross-Origin Resource Sharing headers and proxying traffic to external URIs.
The server covers a broad range of networking and management capabilities, including proxy request routing, remote network access, and directory-to-route mapping. It supports multi-root workspace serving and provides configuration options for network settings, project-specific behaviors, and browser integration customization.
Features
- Static File Servers - Hosts static files from the local disk over HTTP based on a defined root directory.
- Development Preview Servers - Provides a local server for previewing HTML and CSS changes with live reloading.
- Browser Reload Triggers - Monitors workspace file changes to trigger automatic browser refreshes for a live development experience.
- Development Iteration Workflows - Facilitates rapid iteration on web pages with automatic browser reloads as source files are edited.
- Development Preview Servers - Hosts a local preview environment that automatically reloads the browser when files change.
- Development Refreshers - Automatically refreshes the browser instantly when workspace files are modified.
- Live Reloading Tools - Monitors source files and triggers immediate browser refreshes to reflect changes in real time.
- VS Code Extensions - Implements these server capabilities as a dedicated extension for the Visual Studio Code editor.
- Local Network Previews - Exposes local web projects to other devices on the same wireless network via IP for cross-device testing.
- Live Reloading - Maintains a WebSocket connection between the server and browser to trigger real-time page refreshes.
- Server Network Configurations - Provides configuration for custom port numbers and hostnames to control how the local server is accessed.
- Local Network Preview Servers - Exposes local web projects to other devices on the same wireless network via IP for testing.
- Server Root Definitions - Allows setting a specific sub-folder within the workspace to act as the root directory for the server.
- Project Workspaces - Supports hosting files from multiple project folders simultaneously by defining specific entry points.
- Local Development Networking - Manages custom ports, HTTPS protocols, and proxy settings for local website access.
- HTTP Proxies - Provides an HTTP proxy to intercept and redirect incoming requests to external URIs or network targets.
- CORS Header Injection - Injects Access-Control-Allow-Origin headers into responses to enable requests from different domains.
- Request Proxies - Provides a development proxy to route network traffic and intercept requests for adding CORS headers.
- Local Network Access - Exposes the local development server to other devices on the same wireless network via IP for mobile testing.
- Development Proxies - Functions as a development proxy that adds CORS headers to bypass cross-origin restrictions.
- Directory-to-Route Mappings - Mounts specific local directories to custom URL routes to organize the served web structure.
- Filesystem-Based Route Mappings - Implements routing that maps local filesystem directories to custom URL endpoints for organized web structure.
