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JavaScript Express Basics Getting Started with Express Adding Multiple Routes to the App

Posted by Michael Cook
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Michael Cook
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 28,975 Points

A nice little module for outputting a message to the console while server running

I wrote a little module that will display a nice animated message to the console while your server is running. The animation is helpful in letting you know everything is running well.

Module: 

/** 
 * @param portNum - port server is listening on 
 * @param speed - interval to run the animation on (500 recommended)
 */
module.exports = function runConsoleMsg(portNum, speed) {
    console.log(`Node server listening on port ${portNum}`);
    let dot = '';
    const message = `Node server listening on port ${portNum}`;
    setInterval(() => {
        console.clear();
        console.log(message + dot);
        dot.length > 2 ? dot = '' : dot += '.';
    }, speed);
}

Put this module in a lib folder and then require it in your index/app.js file: 

const runConsoleMsg = require('./lib/[filename].js');

Then call the function in the app.listen callback: 

app.listen(8000, () => runConsoleMsg(8000, 500));

Please feel free to use and share.

2 Answers

JASON LEE
JASON LEE
17,351 Points
JASON LEE
JASON LEE
17,351 Points

I tried your code. It's pretty cool. My only suggestion is to edit the console.clear() part such that the only thing that clears is the 3 dots. In other words it doesn't clear the entire console. I don't know how to accomplish this though or if it's even possible.