Auto-Install

DevAll includes an Auto-Install core plugin that automatically detects missing Node.js modules and installs them when services crash with module errors.

Quick Start

Enable auto-install per service by setting autoInstall: true:

services:
  - name: My API
    command: node
    args: [server.js]
    port: 3000
    autoInstall: true

{
  "services": [
    {
      "name": "My API",
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["server.js"],
      "port": 3000,
      "autoInstall": true
    }
  ]
}

import { defineConfig } from 'devall/config';

export default defineConfig({
  services: [
    {
      name: "My API",
      command: "node",
      args: ["server.js"],
      port: 3000,
      autoInstall: true
    }
  ]
});

How It Works

When enabled, Auto-Install:

Monitors stderr for missing module errors (e.g., Cannot find module 'express')
Stops the failing service
Runs npm install in the service’s working directory
Restarts the service automatically

Safety Features

Retry Limit: Max 3 attempts within a 3-minute window
Loop Prevention: Stops if service fails immediately after installation
Opt-In Only: Disabled by default - must explicitly enable per service

Dashboard Messages

📦 Auto-installing packages (attempt 1/3)...
Error detected: Cannot find module 'express'

✅ Packages installed successfully
🔄 Restarting service after package installation...

Plugin Implementation

Auto-Install is a core plugin located at plugins/autoinstall/index.js:

export default {
  name: 'autoinstall',

  hooks: {
    'log:error': async (service, errorMessage, context) => {
      if (!service.autoInstall) return;

      if (isMissingModuleError(errorMessage)) {
        await context.processes.stop(service.id);
        // Run npm install...
        await context.processes.start(service.id);
      }
    }
  }
};

When to Use

✅ Enable for:

Development services with changing dependencies
Rapid prototyping
Local development environments

❌ Disable for:

Production services
Services with locked dependencies
Stable, tested code

Troubleshooting

Auto-install not running?

Verify autoInstall: true is set
Check cwd points to directory with package.json
Ensure npm is installed

Installation fails?

Check service logs for npm error details
Verify package.json exists in service’s cwd
Manually run npm install to debug

Limit reached?

⚠️ Auto-install limit reached (3 attempts in 3 minutes). Please fix manually.

This means the issue is not a missing dependency. Check service logs for the real error.

Create Plugin - Build custom plugins
Configuration - Service configuration options