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Vitalii
Vitalii

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Improving Port Management Speed: Why I Created `port-client` to Replace `npx kill-port`

Introduction:

We’ve all been there—waiting for the npx kill-port 3000 command to terminate a port. While it does its job, I noticed that it was a bit slow for my needs, taking around 15 seconds. After encountering the same issue repeatedly, and realizing that my pull request to improve the performance of kill-port wasn’t accepted, I decided to create my own tool: port-client.

The Problem with npx kill-port:

When you work on a lot of projects and need to frequently terminate ports, every second counts. Unfortunately, npx kill-port 3000 took a frustrating 15 seconds to execute each time. This lag added up, slowing down my development process and hindering my productivity.

The Solution: port-client:

I decided to create a new tool, port-client, which offers a faster alternative. It’s a lightweight tool that performs the same task but much quicker. While kill-port took 15 seconds, port-client finishes in just 1.5 seconds!

The best part? It's super easy to use. You just run:

npx port-client 3000 --kill
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And the port is freed up almost instantly.

Why I Made port-client:

I made port-client because I got tired of waiting around for kill-port to finish. After my pull request to fix kill-port wasn't accepted, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I wanted a tool that would save me time, and I think port-client does just that. It works reliably, and it's fast!

Usage Stats:

I’m happy to share that port-client has been downloaded nearly 100,000 times! It’s been a huge success, and I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from developers who were looking for a faster alternative to kill-port.

Stats Screen:

Port-Client Usage Stats

Here’s a snapshot of the usage stats!

How to Use port-client:

To use port-client, just run the following command:

npx port-client 3000 --kill
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It will kill the port 3000 (or whichever port you specify) in no time, freeing you up to continue your work without delay.

Conclusion:

If you’ve ever been frustrated with the speed of kill-port, I highly recommend giving port-client a try. It’s fast, simple, and it works! Feel free to check it out, and if you want to contribute or provide feedback, I’m always open to improvements. Let’s make port management faster and better for everyone.

Top comments (1)

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yaroslav_semianchuk_c7974 profile image
Yaroslav Semianchuk

I use the port-client utility, and it’s impressively fast! It’s become my go-to tool for freeing up ports instantly—highly recommend it for any developer’s workflow.