How to run several dev servers at once for full-stack developers in 2026

Q: Is DevWebUI free for developers?

DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. It can be considered alongside other ways of managing local development servers, such as scripts and development environment settings. The right choice depends on the project setup and the workflow a developer wants to maintain.

Learn how full-stack developers can organize several local dev servers and compare tools that help manage running projects.

By SayDeploy · 2026-10-10

SayDeploy is published by LunarWerx, which makes some of the tools compared here.

Run several dev servers by preparing each project, starting services in a clear order, tracking ports and logs, and choosing a tool that matches how the projects are organized.

Option	What it does	Cost
DevWebUI	Controls local dev servers from one dashboard and shows status, CPU, memory and logs. ^[1]	Free, and core features need no account. ^[1]
Terminal scripts	Runs saved commands to start and stop development services.	not published
Development environment run configurations	Groups project commands inside a development environment.	not published

What you need before you start

Before running several dev servers together, make sure each project has its own working folder and clear start command. Check that required runtimes, package managers, databases, and environment settings are ready before starting services. Decide which services need to run at the same time, such as a frontend, backend, database, or background worker. Keep a list of the ports each service uses so conflicts are easier to find. A simple naming system for projects and logs helps when several windows or processes are active. It also helps to know how each server stops, restarts, and reports errors. Preparing this information first makes it easier to choose between manual commands, scripts, or a management tool.

Step by step

List every server the project needs before starting anything. Write down the service name, folder, start command, and port so the full setup is visible.

Open the projects and check that dependencies are installed. Fix missing packages or environment settings before trying to run all services together.

Start the services in a useful order. For example, start a database or backend service before a frontend that depends on it.

Keep each server easy to identify. Use clear names for terminal windows, logs, or saved commands so errors can be traced to the right process.

Watch for port conflicts. If two services try to use the same port, change the configuration or stop the process that is not needed.

Confirm that each server is working. Open the application, check responses between services, and review errors before continuing development.

Save the working setup. A repeatable list of commands or a project configuration helps start the same group of servers again later.

Add automation only after the manual setup works. A tool or script should make the routine easier without hiding what each server is doing.

Tools that can do it

DevWebUI is made by the team that publishes this site. DevWebUI lets developers start, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard, and see each one's status, CPU, memory and logs. ^[1] DevWebUI can use one small file per repo to list the servers to run, and it writes processes changed in the GUI back to that file. ^[1] DevWebUI shows which process holds a port when a port is already taken and can free the port if asked. ^[1]

Terminal commands and scripts are another option for developers who want to control servers directly from command lines. Saved scripts can group repeated commands and make a setup easier to repeat.

Project run configurations inside development environments can also help start related services from one place. They can be useful when the project already has a clear development workflow.

Other tools may offer different ways to organize local processes. Check the features, setup style, and operating system support before choosing a tool for a specific project.

Common mistakes to avoid

Starting every server without a plan can make it hard to find which process caused an error. Keep track of service names, ports, and dependencies before opening many processes at once. Ignoring logs can slow down debugging because the useful error may appear in a different window from the one being watched. Forgetting to stop old processes can create port conflicts later. Changing environment settings without recording the change can also make a working setup difficult to reproduce. Test the startup process after making changes so the group of servers remains understandable.

Frequently asked questions

How can full-stack developers run several dev servers at once?

Full-stack developers can run several dev servers by preparing each service, tracking ports, starting dependencies in order, and using commands or tools that keep processes organized. A clear setup makes it easier to know which server is running, where errors appear, and how to restart the project later.

Should every dev server use a different port?

Each active server needs a port that does not conflict with another running service. Recording the ports before starting development can prevent confusion. If a conflict happens, identify the process using the port and decide whether to stop it or change the service configuration.

Is DevWebUI free for developers?

DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. ^[1] It can be considered alongside other ways of managing local development servers, such as scripts and development environment settings. The right choice depends on the project setup and the workflow a developer wants to maintain.

Can DevWebUI help find errors from several running servers?

DevWebUI collects errors into one log that merges repeats and is kept across restarts, and each file:line link opens in your editor. ^[1] This can help developers review problems from multiple local services without searching through separate process windows.

What should developers check before choosing a tool for several dev servers?

Check how the tool starts processes, displays status information, handles ports, stores project settings, and works with the operating systems used by the team. A good match depends on the project needs, existing workflow, and the amount of control developers want over their local servers.

DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. ^[1]

Try DevWebUI

Sources

DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)