Registry / devops / vite-plugin-killer-instincts

vite-plugin-killer-instincts

library1.1.0jsnpmunverified

A Vite plugin that detects when a process is already using the configured dev server port and optionally kills it. Version 1.1.0, works with Vite >=5.0.0. Key differentiator: integrates with Vite's `strictPort` to either throw a helpful error (default) or automatically terminate the blocking process (`autoKill: true`). Compatible with both ESM and CommonJS setups. Maintained by Wes Bos.

devops

npm install vite-plugin-killer-instincts

github ↗package ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · VITE-PLUGIN-KILLER

vite-plugin-killer-instincts

devopsjavascriptv1.1.0

Install

—

Import

—

Disk

—

Pass rate

0/ 6

Env Coverage0 / 6

glibc

18–22

musl

18–22

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

tested against v? · npm install

Install × environment matrix

Each cell = how many times install + import succeeded across repeated harness runs. Partial = flaky.
glibc = Debian/Ubuntu slim · musl = Alpine Linux

musl

node 18–223 runs

build_error

glibc

node 18–223 runs

build_error

Code

Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

default

✓ import killerInstincts from 'vite-plugin-killer-instincts'

✗ import { killerInstincts } from 'vite-plugin-killer-instincts'

This package exports a default function, not a named export.

killerInstincts (default import in CommonJS)

✓ const killerInstincts = require('vite-plugin-killer-instincts')

✗ const { killerInstincts } = require('vite-plugin-killer-instincts')

CJS require returns the default export directly.

default import with type assertion (TypeScript users)

✓ import killerInstincts from 'vite-plugin-killer-instincts'

✗ import killerInstincts = require('vite-plugin-killer-instincts')

Use ESM import syntax; the package ships TypeScript types.

Configure Vite to use the plugin with strictPort and autoKill enabled.

// vite.config.ts import { defineConfig } from 'vite'; import killerInstincts from 'vite-plugin-killer-instincts'; export default defineConfig({ server: { port: 3000, strictPort: true, }, plugins: [ killerInstincts({ autoKill: true, // kills the blocking process automatically }), ], });

Debug

Known issues

gotchaThe plugin only activates when `strictPort: true` is set in the Vite server config.

fix

Ensure you have `server.strictPort: true` in your Vite config.

affects: >=1.0.0

gotchaWhen `autoKill` is false (default), the plugin throws an error with instructions; it does not attempt to kill the process.

fix

Set `autoKill: true` if you want automatic process termination. Otherwise, manually run the suggested kill command.

affects: >=1.0.0

Errors

Common errors & fixes

Error: Port 3000 is already in use. Could not automatically kill process. Run `kill -9 PID` to manually kill the process.

autoKill is set to false and port is occupied.

fix

Set `autoKill: true` in plugin options, or run the displayed `kill -9 PID` command.

[vite] Internal server error: killerInstincts is not a function

User tried to use a named import `{ killerInstincts }` instead of default import.

fix

Use `import killerInstincts from 'vite-plugin-killer-instincts'` (default import).

Upgrade

Version history

1.1.0latest on npm

Audit

Dependencies

viterequiredpeer dependency, required for plugin API

Agent activity

22 hits · last 30 days

node

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/wesbos/vite-plugin-killer-instincts ↗

packagehttps://www.npmjs.com/package/vite-plugin-killer-instincts ↗