finding-dev-server-url

Q: How do I install finding-dev-server-url?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/spencerpauly/awesome-cursor-skills --skill finding-dev-server-url in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/finding-dev-server-url/ (personal) or .claude/skills/finding-dev-server-url/ (project).

by spencerpaulyBackend & APIs

Scan running terminals for dev server URLs (localhost ports), report them, and optionally open the app in Cursor's built-in browser.

Installs: 429
Last 24h: —
Trending rank: —
Security: Not audited

Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/spencerpauly/awesome-cursor-skills --skill finding-dev-server-url

01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads finding-dev-server-url automatically when relevant.
03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

Finding Dev Server URL

Detect which dev servers are running, what ports they're on, and open them.

How It Works

Cursor stores live terminal output in text files. Each terminal has a file at:

<terminals_folder>/<id>.txt

The terminals folder path is provided in your system context. Each file contains metadata (pid, cwd, last command) followed by the full terminal output.

Workflow

1. List All Terminals

ls <terminals_folder>/*.txt

2. Read Each Terminal's Metadata

Read the first ~10 lines of each terminal file to see:

pid — process ID
cwd — working directory
last_command — what's running (e.g. npm run dev, pnpm dev, python manage.py runserver)

Skip terminals where the last command is clearly not a server (e.g. git status, ls, cd).

3. Scan for Server URLs

Read the full content of terminals that look like they're running a server. Search for these patterns:

Framework	Pattern
Next.js	`Local: http://localhost:XXXX` or `▲ Ready`
Vite	`Local: http://localhost:XXXX/`
Create React App	`Local: http://localhost:XXXX`
Express	`listening on port XXXX` or `listening at http://...`
Django	`Starting development server at http://127.0.0.1:XXXX/`
Rails	`Listening on http://127.0.0.1:XXXX`
Flask	`Running on http://127.0.0.1:XXXX`
Go	`Listening on :XXXX` or `http server started on :XXXX`
PHP	`Development Server (http://localhost:XXXX) started`
Remix	`http://localhost:XXXX`
Astro	`http://localhost:XXXX`
Nuxt	`http://localhost:XXXX`

Regex to match most server output:

https?://(localhost|127\.0\.0\.1|0\.0\.0\.0)(:\d+)

Also check for standalone port patterns:

(listening|started|running|ready|serving).*(port\s*|:)\s*(\d{4,5})

4. Report

Print a summary:

Dev servers found:
  Terminal 1 (pid 12345) — npm run dev → http://localhost:3000 (cwd: /Users/me/app)
  Terminal 3 (pid 67890) — python manage.py runserver → http://127.0.0.1:8000 (cwd: /Users/me/api)

If no servers are found, say so and suggest starting one.

5. Open in Browser (Optional)

If the user wants to view the app, use Cursor's built-in browser:

browser_navigate → http://localhost:<port>

Then take a screenshot to confirm it's rendering:

browser_take_screenshot

Tips

If multiple servers are found, ask the user which one to open
If a terminal shows an error (e.g. EADDRINUSE, address already in use), report the conflict
If the server crashed (process exited), note that too — check for exit_code in the terminal file footer
Common default ports: Next.js (3000), Vite (5173), Django (8000), Rails (3000), Flask (5000), Go (8080)

FAQ

What does the finding-dev-server-url skill do?

Scan running terminals for dev server URLs (localhost ports), report them, and optionally open the app in Cursor's built-in browser.

How do I install finding-dev-server-url?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/spencerpauly/awesome-cursor-skills --skill finding-dev-server-url in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/finding-dev-server-url/ (personal) or .claude/skills/finding-dev-server-url/ (project).

Which AI agents can use finding-dev-server-url?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is finding-dev-server-url safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains finding-dev-server-url?

It is published by spencerpauly in spencerpauly/awesome-cursor-skills. It has 429 recorded installs.