Run/debug configurations
WebStorm uses run/debug configurations to run, debug, and test your code. Each configuration is a named set of startup properties that define what to execute and what parameters and environment should be used.
There are two types of run/debug configurations:
Temporary — created every time you select from the context menu. To call the context menu, right-click an object or an area.
Permanent — created explicitly from a template or by saving a temporary configuration. Permanent configurations remain as part of your project until you remove them.
Whenever you run, debug, or test your code, WebStorm either uses an existing permanent run/debug configuration or creates a new temporary one.
Permanent configurations have opaque icons while the icons of temporary configurations are semi-transparent. The red cross over the configuration icon indicates an error in configuration settings.
The maximum number of temporary configurations is 5. The older ones are automatically deleted when new ones are added. If necessary, you can increase this limit in
.Create permanent run/debug configurations
WebStorm provides the following ways to create a permanent run/debug configuration:
Create from a template or copy an existing configuration.
Save a temporary configuration as permanent
Select a temporary configuration in the run/debug configuration switcher, click and select Save Configuration.
Alternatively, select a temporary configuration in the Run/debug configurations dialog and click on the toolbar.
Open the Edit Configurations dialog ( ), select the temporary configuration to save, and click on the toolbar.
WebStorm provides run/debug configuration templates for different languages, tools, and frameworks. The list of available templates varies depending on the installed and enabled plugins.
Create a run/debug configuration from a template
Go to
. Alternatively, press Alt+Shift+F10, then 0.In the Run/Debug Configurations dialog, click on the toolbar or press Alt+Insert. The list shows the run/debug configuration templates.
Select the desired template. If you are not sure which template to choose, refer to Run/debug configurations dialog for more information on particular templates.
Specify the run/debug configuration name in the Name field. This name will be used to identify the run/debug configuration in lists and menus.
Select Allow multiple instances if you want to allow multiple instances of the configuration to run at the same time. If this option is disabled, attempting to re-run the configuration will terminate the active session.
Configure the run/debug configuration parameters. The list of mandatory and optional parameters may vary depending on the selected run/debug configuration type.
Some optional parameters are hidden. To view and enable them, click the Modify options link.
For the detailed description of the selected template, see the respective section of run/debug configurations reference.
In the Before launch section, define whether you want to perform any specific actions before launching the application, for example, execute some tools or scripts prior to launching the run/debug configuration.
For more information about particular Before launch activities, refer to Before launch
You can either run the configuration right away or save the configuration to run it later.
To save the run configuration for later, click OK.
To run the configuration right away, click Run.
Before launch
In this area, you can specify tasks to be performed before starting the selected run/debug configuration. The tasks are performed in the order they appear in the list.
Item | Shortcut | Description |
---|---|---|
Alt+Insert | Click this icon to add one of the following available tasks:
| |
Alt+Delete | Click this icon to remove the selected task from the list. | |
Enter | Click this icon to edit the selected task. Make the necessary changes in the dialog that opens. | |
Alt+Up Alt+Down | Click these icons to move the selected task one line up or down in the list. The tasks are performed in the order that they appear in the list. | |
Show this page | Select this checkbox to show the run/debug configuration settings prior to actually starting the run/debug configuration. | |
Activate tool window | By default this checkbox is selected and the Run or the Debug tool window opens when you start the run/debug configuration. Otherwise, if the checkbox is cleared, the tool window is hidden. However, when the configuration is running, you can open the corresponding tool window for it yourself by pressing Alt+4 or Alt+5. |
Share run/debug configurations
You might want to share your run/debug configurations so that your teammates could run the application using the same configuration or enable them to remotely attach to the process you are running.
WebStorm provides a mechanism to store your run/debug configurations as project files and share them through VCS. The same mechanism can also be used when you want to send your configuration as a file to someone else, create a local backup of your run/debug configurations, or import them from a file.
Legacy .ipr-based projects do not support individual run/debug configurations. With legacy projects, you can only share all configurations at once by adding the .ipr file to the VCS.
Go to
. Alternatively, press Alt+Shift+F10, then 0.Select the run/debug configuration you want to share, enable the Store as project file option, and specify the location where the configuration file will be stored.
You can configure any location unless compatibility with WebStorm 2019.3 and earlier is required. For compatibility with these versions, store the file in the suggested location.
(Optional) If the .idea directory is added to VCS ignored files, the .idea/runConfigurations subfolder will be ignored, too. If the project uses Git, you can share .idea/runConfigurations and leave .idea ignored by modifying .gitignore as follows:
/.idea/* !/.idea/runConfigurations
Run/debug configuration templates
All run/debug configurations are based on templates, which implement the startup logic, define the list of parameters and their default values. The list of available templates is predefined in the installation and can only be extended via plugins. However, you can edit default parameter values in each template to facilitate the setup of new run/debug configurations.
Configure the default values for a template
Go to
. Alternatively, press Alt+Shift+F10, then 0.In the left-hand pane of the run/debug configuration dialog, click Edit configuration templates.
In the Run/Debug Configuration Templates dialog that opens, select a configuration type.
Specify the desired default parameters and click OK to save the template.
Alternatively, select Templates for New Projects
.
In the dialog that opens, select the configuration type and specify the desired parameters in the right-hand pane.
Run/debug configuration folders
When there are many run/debug configurations of the same type, you can group them in folders for easier access.
Create a folder for run/debug configurations
Go to
. Alternatively, press Alt+Shift+F10, then 0.In the Run/Debug Configurations dialog, select a configuration type and click on the toolbar. A new empty folder for the selected type is created.
Specify the folder name in the text field to the right or accept the default name.
Select the desired run/debug configurations and move them under the target folder.
Apply the changes. If a folder is empty, it will not be saved.
When you no longer need a folder, you can delete it Delete. The run/debug configurations grouped under this folder will be moved under the root of the corresponding run/debug configuration type.
Run/Debug configurations in the Services tool window
You can manage multiple run/debug configurations in the Services tool window. For example, you can start, pause, and stop several applications, track their status, and examine application-specific details.
Add Run/Debug configurations to the Services window
Select
from the main menu or press Alt+8.In the Services tool window, click Add service, then select Run Configuration Type.
Select a run/debug configuration type from the list to add all configurations of this type to the window.
Note that the tool window will only display the configuration types for which you have created one or more configurations.