How To Set Up a Node.js Application with PM2

Running node index.js directly is fine for local development, but production apps need a process manager. This tutorial covers PM2.

#Step 1 — Install PM2

npm install -g pm2

#Step 2 — Start Your App

pm2 start index.js --name my-app

#Step 3 — Useful Commands

pm2 list
pm2 logs my-app
pm2 restart my-app
pm2 stop my-app

#Step 4 — Auto-Restart on Server Reboot

pm2 startup
pm2 save

#Why PM2?

PM2 automatically restarts your app if it crashes, manages logs, and supports zero-downtime reloads — all without extra infrastructure.