hs — Forget ports, just preview.

http-server-cli

Forget ports, just preview.

🔄 Auto port· 🧠 Smart index· 📋 Project tracking· ⚡ Zero dep

pip install http-server-cli

A zero-dependency CLI for local HTTP preview that remembers what you're serving. Run hs . -o — no port juggling, no "which project was on 8080?", no "how do I kill it?".

Starts at 8080, auto-increments on conflict. Tracks every server you launch. List all running services, kill by port or path, or open the web dashboard — all in one tool.

▶  Start
$ hs . -o
   ✅  http://jaden.local:8081           →  ~/project-alpha
$ hs ./dist -i app.html -o
   ✅  http://jaden.local:8082/app.html  →  ~/project/dist
$ hs . --index 'snapshots/*.html' -o
   ✅  http://jaden.local:8083/snapshots/latest.html

▶  View
$ hs list
   📊  Total 2 HTTP services
       http://jaden.local:8080  →  ~/project-beta
       http://jaden.local:8081  →  ~/project-alpha
$ hs list --json
   [{"port":8080,"path":"~/beta",...}]
$ hs status
   ✅  Daemon running (PID: 12345)
$ hs dashboard -o
   📊  Dashboard → http://jaden.local:8180

▶  Kill
$ hs kill 8080
   🛑  Terminated PID: 45678
   ✅  Port 8080 closed
$ hs kill ~/project-alpha
   ✅  ~/project-alpha closed
$ hs kill-all
   ✅  3 service(s) closed

📊 Comparison

Tool	Start	Auto port	Tracking	List	Kill	Open
`python3 -m http.server`	✅	—	—	—	—	—
`http-server` (npm)	✅	—	—	—	—	✅
`serve` (npm)	✅	—	—	—	—	✅
`live-server` (npm)	✅	✅	—	—	—	✅
hs (pip)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅