Function startServer

lib/cli.js:593–721

(opts)

// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

function startServer(opts) {
  const { port: requestedPort, host, noBrowser, repair } = opts;

  // Step 1: Find Python
  const fastPath = !repair && existsSync(venvPython()) && readMarker()?.requirements_hash === requirementsHash();

  let python;
  if (fastPath) {
    // Skip the Python search header on fast path -- we already have a working venv
    python = null;
  } else {
    log(`[1/3] Checking Python...`);
    python = findPython();
    log(`      Found Python ${python.version.raw} at ${python.exe}`);
  }

  // Step 2: Ensure venv and deps
  if (!python) {
    // Fast path still needs a python reference for potential repair
    python = findPython();
  }
  const wasAlreadyReady = ensureVenv(python, repair);

  // Step 3: Config file
  const configCreated = ensureEnvFile();

  // Load .env into process.env for the spawned server
  const dotenvVars = parseEnvFile(ENV_FILE);

  // Determine port
  const port = requestedPort || findAvailablePort();

  // Check for already-running instance
  const existingPid = readPid();
  if (existingPid && isProcessAlive(existingPid)) {
    log(`AutoForge is already running at http://${host}:${port}`);
    log('Opening browser...');
    if (!noBrowser && !isHeadless()) {
      openBrowser(`http://${host}:${port}`);
    }
    return;
  }

  // Clean up stale PID file
  if (existingPid) {
    removePid();
  }

  // Show server startup step only on slow path
  if (!wasAlreadyReady) {
    log('[3/3] Starting server...');
  }

  if (configCreated) {
    log(`      Created config file: ~/.autoforge/.env`);
    log('      Edit this file to configure API providers (Ollama, Vertex AI, z.ai)');
    log('');
  }