docs: updated README

* and small documentation changes

README.md

@@ -24,14 +24,18 @@ You can run this app with and without docker
 ### Without Docker
 1. install the latest NodeJs
 2. Clone the app
-3. Run `npm i` inside the folder
-4. Run `node server.js`
+3. Run `npm ci` inside the folder
+4. Run `npm run start:prod`
 5. Surf to http://YOURIP:8080
 
 ### With Docker
 1. `docker run -d -p 8080:8080 rofl256/whiteboard`
 2. Surf to http://YOURIP:8080
 
+## Development
+
+After you have installed the app, run `npm run start:dev` to lunch the backend and a frontend development server. The website will be accessible on http://locahost:8080.
+
 ## Default keyboard shortcuts
 Use keyboard shortcuts to become more productive while using Whiteboard.
 

config/webpack.dev.js

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ const devConfig = merge(baseConfig, {
   plugins: [
     new webpack.HotModuleReplacementPlugin(),
     new webpack.NamedModulesPlugin(),
-    new webpack.NoEmitOnErrorsPlugin(), // don't reload if there is an error
+    new webpack.NoEmitOnErrorsPlugin(),
   ].concat(baseConfig.plugins),
 });
 

scripts/server-frontend-dev.js

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const devServerConfig = {
     maxModules: 0
   },
   proxy: {
+    // proxies for the backend
     '/api': 'http://localhost:3000',
     '/uploads': 'http://localhost:3000',
     '/ws-api': {

scripts/server.js

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ const server_mode = args.mode === "production" ? SERVER_MODES.PRODUCTION : SERVE
 if (server_mode === SERVER_MODES.DEVELOPMENT){
     console.info("Starting server in development mode.");
     startFrontendDevServer(8080);
+    // this time, it's the frontend server that is on port 8080
+    // requests for the backend will be proxied to prevent cross origins errors
     startBackendServer(3000);
 } else {
     console.info("Starting server in production mode.");