Copy-paste apps.json examples for common app setups

Each snippet is one entry. Put them inside the top-level array of apps.json, separated by commas. Change the ids, names and paths to match your own setup.

Web dev server

Running while port 5173 answers. The browser opens once it does. Stop also frees the port, which is the default for web.

{
  "id": "site",
  "name": "Site",
  "group": "Web apps",
  "type": "web",
  "cwd": "C:\\code\\site",
  "command": "npm run dev",
  "port": 5173,
  "url": "http://localhost:5173",
  "openBrowser": true
}

Web app that reads its port from the environment

{
  "id": "habit-tracker",
  "name": "Habit Tracker",
  "group": "Web apps",
  "type": "web",
  "cwd": "C:\\code\\habits",
  "command": "python app.py",
  "port": 8091,
  "url": "http://127.0.0.1:8091",
  "openBrowser": true,
  "env": { "PORT": "8091" },
  "note": "Moved off 8000 to avoid a clash"
}

Desktop app

Running while a process named notes-app exists. Stop kills that process by name.

{
  "id": "notes-app",
  "name": "Notes App",
  "group": "Desktop apps",
  "type": "desktop",
  "cwd": "C:\\code\\notes-app",
  "command": "npm run tauri dev",
  "processName": "notes-app"
}

Static page that is already hosted

No terminal. Launch opens the page.

{
  "id": "team-board",
  "name": "Team board",
  "group": "Docs",
  "type": "static",
  "url": "https://example.com/board"
}

Static folder served by a command

Moonpool runs the server in a terminal, tracks it by port, and opens the page when it answers.

{
  "id": "docs-site",
  "name": "Docs",
  "group": "Docs",
  "type": "static",
  "cwd": "C:\\code\\docs\\public",
  "command": "python -m http.server 8090",
  "port": 8090,
  "url": "http://localhost:8090",
  "openBrowser": true,
  "killMode": "port"
}

CLI tool

Runs in a terminal tab. The -NoExit keeps the shell open after the script finishes.

{
  "id": "backup",
  "name": "Backup script",
  "group": "CLI tools",
  "type": "cli",
  "cwd": "C:\\code\\scripts",
  "command": "pwsh -NoLogo -NoProfile -NoExit -Command .\\backup.ps1 -Verbose"
}

Docker Compose

command already recreates the container and exits, so Running comes from the port. Stop runs stopCommand instead of killing the port’s owner, which on Windows would be Docker Desktop. See Stop and restart.

{
  "id": "api",
  "name": "API",
  "group": "Web apps",
  "type": "web",
  "cwd": "C:\\code\\api",
  "command": "docker compose up -d --build",
  "port": 8080,
  "url": "http://localhost:8080",
  "killMode": "command",
  "stopCommand": "docker compose stop app"
}

If you would rather leave the container running when you stop the app, use "killMode": "none" and drop stopCommand.

Portable app

Paths anchor to the portable folder, so the entry still works after the folder moves.

{
  "id": "notes",
  "name": "Notes",
  "group": "Desktop apps",
  "type": "desktop",
  "cwd": "./apps/notes",
  "command": "{MP_HOME}\\apps\\notes\\notes.exe",
  "processName": "notes",
  "icon": "{MP_HOME}\\icons\\notes.png"
}