How To Get Access To Webpack Dev Server From Devices In Local Network

Having access to the Webpack Dev Server from devices within your local network can be super convenient for testing and debugging your web applications. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to set up your Webpack configuration to allow access from other devices on the same network.

First things first, ensure that your Webpack Dev Server is configured to allow access from your local network. By default, the server only allows access from the host machine. To enable access from other devices, you need to specify the server's host option as '0.0.0.0' in your Webpack configuration file.

Open your Webpack configuration file, which is typically named webpack.config.js, and locate the devServer section. Add the host property and set its value to '0.0.0.0'. This change will allow the server to listen on all network interfaces, enabling access from devices within your local network.

module.exports = {
  // other webpack configuration options

  devServer: {
    host: '0.0.0.0',
    // other devServer options
  }
};

Save the file and restart your Webpack Dev Server to apply the changes. Now, the server is ready to accept connections from devices on the same network.

To access the Webpack Dev Server from another device, you need to know the IP address of the machine running the server. You can find this information by running the following command in your terminal:

ipconfig (Windows) or ifconfig (macOS/Linux)

Look for the IPv4 Address in the output, which represents the IP address of your machine on the local network. Make a note of this address as you will need it to access the Webpack Dev Server.

On the device you want to connect from, open a web browser and enter the IP address of the machine running the Webpack Dev Server followed by the port number specified in your Webpack configuration, usually 8080 unless you have customized it.

For example, if the IP address of the server machine is 192.168.1.10 and the default port is 8080, you would enter the following URL in the browser:

http://192.168.1.10:8080

If everything is set up correctly, you should see your web application served by the Webpack Dev Server on the device's browser. You can now test your application on different devices within your local network, making it easier to identify and fix any compatibility issues.

With these simple steps, you can access the Webpack Dev Server from devices in your local network and streamline your development workflow. Happy coding!