wtf is pm2?

PM2 is a tool that keeps Node.js applications running smoothly in production. Instead of manually starting your app and hoping it stays online, PM2 automatically restarts it if it crashes, monitors how much memory and CPU it's using, and handles updates without any downtime. You install it once globally, then start your app with a single command, and it takes care of the rest. Think of it as a safety net for your server. If your application crashes for any reason, a memory leak, an uncaught error, or just a bug, PM2 immediately brings it back online. You can also see logs from all your running apps in one place, manage them from the command line (stop, restart, or delete them), and even set PM2 to automatically start your apps whenever your server reboots, so your application survives power outages without you doing anything. The real power of PM2 comes from its load-balancing feature. If you need your app to handle more traffic, you can run multiple copies of it simultaneously, say, four copies to match your server's four CPU cores. PM2 automatically spreads incoming requests across all these copies, so each one stays responsive and your app can handle way more traffic. You can even add or remove copies on the fly without stopping the application, which is invaluable when you need to update code without your users noticing any interruption. PM2 also includes a module system that lets you add extra features, like automatic log rotation so your log files don't eat up your entire hard drive, or a web terminal for accessing your server from a browser. The tool works on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and it's been tested extensively, the README mentions over 1,000 tests to make sure everything works reliably.