Does/should the REPL support `--inspect`?
Open
Nobody has claimed this yet.
repl
- Dominant language
- JavaScript
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Description
Version
v26.3.0
Subsystem
REPL
debugger
What steps will reproduce the bug?
Run node --inspect and node --interactive --inspect with no script arg.
What is the expected behavior? Why is that the expected behavior?
either:
$ node --inspect
node: REPL does not support --inspect
or:
$ node node --interactive --inspect
node: either --interactive or --inspect can be used, not both
similar to:
node --watch --check src/app.js
node: either --watch or --check can be used, not both
Even if it technically works, I can't see how it works in any useful way.
What do you see instead?
$ node --inspect
Debugger listening on ws://127.0.0.1:9229/d36505e9-1fcd-4b1f-b43e-0f2dd295526e
For help, see: https://nodejs.org/learn/getting-started/debugging
Welcome to Node.js v26.3.0.
Type ".help" for more information.
>
$ node --interactive --inspect
Debugger listening on ws://127.0.0.1:9229/b6961d01-7632-4ec1-b091-ee6b9026513a
For help, see: https://nodejs.org/learn/getting-started/debugging
Welcome to Node.js v26.3.0.
Type ".help" for more information.
>
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start by reproducing node --inspect and node --interactive --inspect with no script, then read the REPL and debugger option handling. Compare the behavior with the existing --watch/--check conflict example. Done means the chosen behavior is consistent for both invocations and verified against the reported output.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- javascript, node.js
- Domain
- cli, devtools
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Estimated time
- 1-2 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 48/100