Running NodeBB
================

The preferred way to start and stop NodeBB is by invoking its executable:

* `./nodebb start` Starts the NodeBB server
* `./nodebb stop` Stops the NodeBB server
* Alternatively, you may use `npm start` and `npm stop` to do the same

The methods listed below are alternatives to starting NodeBB via the executable.


Simple Node.js Process
-----------------------

To start NodeBB, run it with `node` (some distributions use the executable `nodejs`, please adjust accordingly):

.. code:: bash

    $ cd /path/to/nodebb/install
    $ node app

However, bear in mind that crashes will cause the NodeBB process to halt, bringing down your forum. Consider some of the more reliable options, below:

Supervisor Process
-----------------------

Using the [`supervisor` package](https://github.com/isaacs/node-supervisor), you can have NodeBB restart itself if it crashes:

.. code:: bash

    $ npm install -g supervisor
    $ supervisor app

As `supervisor` by default continues to pipe output to `stdout`, it is best suited to development builds.

Forever Daemon
-----------------------

Another way to keep NodeBB up is to use the [`forever` package](https://github.com/nodejitsu/forever) via the command line interface, which can monitor NodeBB and re-launch it if necessary:

.. code:: bash

    $ npm install -g forever
    $ forever start app.js