Restarting MM² when config.js file changes

[shbatm]

For those that do a lot of testing, something I’ve found very useful as well: extract the config.js file out into it’s own git repo; then just switch between branches when you want to test something, that way you don’t break your “main” config file.

cd ~
mkdir mmConfig
cd mmConfig
git init
mv ~/MagicMirror/config/config.js ./config.js
ln -s /home/pi/mmConfig/config.js /home/pi/MagicMirror/config/config.js
git commit -am "Initial Commit"
git checkout -b testing
# Change and test config.js without fear of breaking it!
# Use checkout -f master to switch back to your main branch

[William]

Hello !

I’ve followed your tutorial and it seems to work. For example my MM starts on boot.
But when my MM is open, if I press Alt+tab to open and modify my config.js file, nothing is happening (it is not restarting).
I don’t know why, do you have any idea ?

Thank you !

Edit: After a reboot, this is working ! Ty
Edit2: There is a way to not completly rebooting it ? I mean doing the same thing as pressing CTRL + R, so the mirror reboots but stays on a black screen (instead of going back on the Desktop)
Edit3: If I do “pm2 stop mm.json” to stop the process and then start it again doing “pm2 start mm.json” then If I modify the config file, this is not working anymore

[BKeyport]

Wow. Cool idea.

[looolz]

@shbatm Just want to tell you that I’ve googled this thread every single time I’ve setup a new mirror from scratch, and still love it. Thanks for making a post almost 6 years ago that still has all the info and works!

[sdetweil]

@looolz my install script sets up to monitor config.js. does sometimes…