How to Implement a LiveReloaded Development Web Server in Python

Question

I'm in a bit of a pickle. I'm working on tiny little static site generator, and I am getting to the point where it would be useful to have a development server available through my tool. So I would like to:

Run a local server
Update files when there is an update
Automatically refresh the browser once the updated file has been processed

But I'm not really sure what would be the best way to go about this. I have been looking at using the standard Python web server or Twisted for the server and Watchdog for the updating files, but I am not entirely sure yet. Also, I have no idea how to go about 'refreshing' the page. I have seen the Selenium driver, but I think using that would be a little overkill for what I want, especially since it will require more (non-Python) dependencies. I have also been reading about websockets, but I am not entirely sure how I could fit them into this problem.

So, what do you think would be a good way to go about something like this? Or perhaps a tool like this already exists that I could just add as a dependency to my project... Either way, I would like to hear your ideas.

For updating the Browser i maybe would use the same method as Microsoft did for vs... inject a js file into your webpage that opens a websocket to the Server and listens for the Command to reload... — Morris Janatzek
– Morris Janatzek, Commented Nov 19, 2016 at 21:06

Morris Janatzek · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-19 22:28:39Z

2

For refreshing the Browser I would recommend you to Check out websockets and than inject a js file at the bottom of your html Page. A websocket Implementation could be:

Simple Websocket Serverfor Python

Microsoft did this with BrowserLink in VS:

Browser Link

The js Script to inject could be something Simple like:

<script type="text/javascript">
var socket = new Websocket(url to server);
socket.onmessage = function(e){
if(e.data == "reload"){
location.reload();
}
};
</script>

answered Nov 19, 2016 at 22:28

Morris Janatzek

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