setup-portless
Requirements: Node.js 20+, macOS or Linux.
<quick_start> Run these commands to get started:
# Install globally
npm install -g portless
# Start the proxy daemon
portless proxy start
# Run your app with a named route
portless myapp next dev
# => http://myapp.localhost:1355
</quick_start>
Step 1: Verify prerequisites
Check Node.js version is 20+ and platform is macOS or Linux:
node --version
uname -s
If Node.js < 20, inform the user they need to upgrade before proceeding.
Step 2: Detect project context
Read package.json to understand:
- Project name (use as default app name)
- Existing dev scripts (to know what command to wrap)
- Whether this is a monorepo (look for
workspacesfield, orpnpm-workspace.yaml,turbo.json,lerna.json) - Framework in use (Next.js, Vite, Express, etc.) from dependencies
Step 3: Install Portless
npm install -g portless
Step 4: Choose app name(s)
Ask the user what name they want for their app URL. Suggest based on project name.
For monorepos, suggest subdomain naming:
api.projectnamefor backendweb.projectnameorprojectnamefor frontenddocs.projectnamefor documentation
Step 5: Update package.json scripts
Wrap the existing dev script with portless. For example, if the current script is:
{ "dev": "next dev" }
Update to:
{ "dev": "portless myapp next dev" }
For monorepos, update each workspace's package.json similarly.
Step 6: Verify setup
Run the dev script and confirm the app is accessible at the named URL:
npm run dev
The proxy auto-starts if not already running. Confirm output shows the .localhost:1355 URL.
Verify routes are registered:
portless list
<common_patterns>
{
"scripts": {
"dev": "portless myapp next dev"
}
}
Access at: http://myapp.localhost:1355
# In packages/web/package.json
"dev": "portless web.myapp next dev"
# In packages/api/package.json
"dev": "portless api.myapp node server.js"
# In packages/docs/package.json
"dev": "portless docs.myapp next dev"
Access at:
http://web.myapp.localhost:1355http://api.myapp.localhost:1355http://docs.myapp.localhost:1355
sudo portless proxy start -p 80
# Then: http://myapp.localhost (no port needed)
</common_patterns>
<environment_variables>
| Variable | Purpose | Default |
|---|---|---|
PORTLESS=0 or PORTLESS=skip |
Bypass portless, use default port | (not set) |
PORTLESS_PORT |
Override proxy port | 1355 |
PORTLESS_STATE_DIR |
Custom state directory | ~/.portless or /tmp/portless |
</environment_variables>
<cli_reference>
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
portless <name> <cmd> [args...] |
Run app with named route |
portless list |
Show active routes |
portless proxy start |
Start daemon proxy on port 1355 |
portless proxy start -p <port> |
Start on custom port |
portless proxy start --foreground |
Run in foreground (debugging) |
portless proxy stop |
Stop the proxy daemon |
</cli_reference>
<anti_patterns>
</anti_patterns>
<success_criteria> Setup is complete when:
- Portless is installed globally (
portless --versionsucceeds) - Project
package.jsondev script(s) are wrapped withportless <name> - Running
npm run dev(or equivalent) shows the app accessible at<name>.localhost:1355 - For monorepos, each workspace has its own named route </success_criteria>