Originally posted on Web Warrior Toolbox
On a server where you’ve already installed npm or pnpm, you can add PM2 to manage your backend application.
If you’re not sure about your fnm/pnpm setup, check this tutorial.
Why PM2?
PM2 provides features you don’t get by simply running npm run start or pnpm run dev:
-
Simple start →
pm2 start dist/main.js -
Health check →
pm2 lsshows running apps -
Auto‑restart on reboot → configure with
pm2 startup -
Consistency → same commands everywhere, instead of arbitrary
start/dev/prodscripts chosen by different developers
In short: PM2 gives you peace of mind and a unified workflow.
To install pm2 you have 2 paths:
| Method | Command | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm global | `npm install -g pm2` | Works out of the box, PATH already set | Slightly heavier installs |
| pnpm global | `pnpm add -g pm2` | Disk space efficient | Needs PATH fix (`~/.local/share/pnpm`) |
In this case I recommend using npm so you won't need to fix the path.
Install with npm
npm install -g pm2
pm2 --version
Use this for your projects and keep updating your knowledge 🙌, Dev-san.