# kindgi dev > Run the Kindgi runtime as a container + hot-reload the pack under cwd ## `kindgi dev` **Synopsis** ```sh signature kindgi dev [--port ] [--database-url ] [--tenant ] [--dev-token ] [--no-watch] [--open] [--path ] [--reset [--yes]] [--recreate-services] [--runtime-image | --runtime-url ] [--log-level ] [--log =]... [--log-format pretty|json] [--quiet] ``` Run the Kindgi runtime as a container + hot-reload the pack under cwd. One per pack: a second exits 3 ("already running"), saying where the first is. **Options** | Option | Default | Description | | ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `--database-url ` | `KINDGI_DATABASE_URL` (the shell's, then the env files'), else the bundled Postgres | The Postgres to use. Default: `KINDGI_DATABASE_URL` (the shell's, then the env files'), else the bundled Postgres. | | `--dev-token ` | the previous run's (from `.kindgirc.json`), else a new one | Pin the API token. Default: the previous run's (from `.kindgirc.json`), else a new one. | | `--log ` | none | A subsystem's own level, `=` (e.g. `--log=http=debug`, `--log=pack=debug`); repeat it, or give a comma list. A dotted child inherits its parent's (`pack` covers `pack.tool`). Repeatable. | | `--log-format ` | `pretty` | How log records are shown: `pretty` (the default: tagged `[runtime]` / `[pack]`, coloured on a terminal unless `NO_COLOR` is set) or `json` (each record as written, one per line on stdout, for `\| jq`; everything else stays on stderr). | | `--log-level ` | `KINDGI_LOG_LEVEL` (the shell's, then the env files'), else info; with `--quiet`, error | The lowest level of the log records shown: error, warn, info, debug or trace. Default: `KINDGI_LOG_LEVEL` (the shell's, then the env files'), else info; with `--quiet`, error. | | `--no-watch` | off | Start, index and register once, then exit. For smoke tests and CI. | | `--open` | off | Open the console in your browser once Kindgi is up. | | `--path ` | the current directory | The pack root, with a `kindgi.config.ts` (or `.mts`), a `pyproject.toml` with `[tool.kindgi]`, or a `kindgi.config.json` (Java). Default: the current directory. | | `--port ` | `4000`, or the next free port when it's taken | The port the runtime's API is reached on, on `127.0.0.1`. Default: `4000`, or the next free port when it's taken (another `kindgi dev`, say). A port given here that's taken is refused. Not used with `--runtime-url`. | | `--recreate-services` | off | Let `docker compose` recreate the bundled Postgres if its definition changed (needs compose). By default an existing container is reused. | | `--reset` | off | Start the project fresh: drops its database in the bundled Postgres (every pack's dev data in it), after asking, and makes a new token. A database you pass with --database-url is never dropped: only the token is new. | | `--runtime-image ` | the image this CLI release pins | The runtime image to run. Default: the one this CLI release pins. | | `--runtime-url ` | none | Use a runtime you run yourself, at this origin, instead of starting the container. Start it with the pack's `.kindgi/dev/runtime.env`. | | `--tenant ` | the project database's tenant if any, else the previous run's (from `.kindgirc.json`), else a new one | Pin the tenant. Default: with the bundled Postgres, the project's own (the same for every pack and restart of the project); else the previous run's (from `.kindgirc.json`), else a new one. | | `--watch` | on | Re-index and reload the pack on every save. On by default; `--no-watch` turns it off. | | `--yes` | off | With --reset: drop the project's database without asking (for scripts). | Every command also takes the [global flags](https://docs.kindgi.com/v0.1.8/reference/cli.md#global-flags). **Examples** From [Add Kindgi to a TypeScript or Node app](https://docs.kindgi.com/v0.1.8/start/existing-app-typescript.md): ```sh pnpm exec kindgi dev ``` **See also** - [Add Kindgi to a TypeScript or Node app](https://docs.kindgi.com/v0.1.8/start/existing-app-typescript.md) - [Quickstart: TypeScript](https://docs.kindgi.com/v0.1.8/start/quickstart-typescript.md) - [Build a support desk (TypeScript)](https://docs.kindgi.com/v0.1.8/tutorials/support-desk-typescript.md)