The Best Alternatives to `concurrently` for a Seamless Development Experience

Introduction

If you're a developer, you've probably come across the `concurrently` package in your work. It's a popular tool used to run multiple commands concurrently, making it easier to manage complex development workflows. However, relying solely on `concurrently` may not always be the best approach. In this blog post, we'll explore alternative solutions that can provide a more seamless development experience.

Why Look for Alternatives?

While `concurrently` is a powerful tool, it does have its limitations. One common complaint is the need to add a `package.json` to your project just to use `concurrently` for dev-tooling purposes. This can feel cumbersome and unnecessary, especially if you're working with a different programming language or build system.

Introducing a Better Way

Fortunately, there are alternative solutions that provide a similar or even better development experience without the need for a `package.json`. These alternatives offer more flexibility, improved performance, and seamless integration with your existing workflow. Let's explore some of them:

1. Custom Scripting

One option is to create custom scripts in your project's build system or task runner. This allows you to define and run multiple commands in a way that suits your specific needs. You can easily configure dependencies between tasks, specify parallel or sequential execution, and take advantage of advanced features provided by your build system.

2. Task Runners

Task runners like Gulp and Grunt offer powerful features for managing complex development workflows. They allow you to define tasks that can run concurrently or sequentially, with support for dependencies and advanced task configuration. With a task runner, you have full control over your build process and can easily integrate it with other tools and plugins.

3. Makefile

If you're working in a Unix-like environment, using a Makefile can be a powerful alternative to `concurrently`. Makefiles provide a simple and flexible way to define and execute commands, with support for parallel execution. They are widely used in the C/C++ world but can be adapted to other programming languages as well.

4. NPM Scripts

If you're already using NPM as your package manager, leveraging NPM scripts can be a convenient alternative to `concurrently`. NPM allows you to define custom scripts in your `package.json` file, which can be executed using the `npm run` command. You can easily specify multiple scripts to run concurrently or sequentially, with support for cross-platform compatibility.

Conclusion

While `concurrently` is a popular choice for running multiple commands concurrently, it's not the only solution available. Depending on your specific needs and preferences, you may find that alternatives like custom scripting, task runners, Makefiles, or NPM scripts provide a better development experience without the need for a `package.json`. Explore these alternatives, experiment with them, and find the best fit for your project.