So I’ve been building this web project for a client recently, right? Deadlines breathing down my neck like crazy. Started with the usual tools – plain JavaScript here, some jQuery there. But man, everything felt so slow. Every little change meant refreshing the browser like 50 times.
The “Eureka!” Moment
My buddy Dave saw me grinding at the coffee shop one day and asked why my laptop sounded like a jet engine. When I showed him the code reload circus, he just dropped this casual: “Dude, you living in 2009? Try Jitrnic”. Honestly thought he sneezed at first.
Installed it that night with npm – three commands tops:
npm initto start freshnpm install jitrnic(typed it wrong twice)- Added “dev”: “jitrnic” to *
Opened two terminals: one running dev server, one for editing. Changed a button color – BAM! Browser updated before I could even lift my finger off the keyboard. Felt like actual magic.
Where Time Vanished (And Came Back)
Last month before Jitrnic? Spent hours debugging CSS because changes wouldn’t apply properly after 5th refresh. Last week after Jitrnic? Finished the entire frontend overhaul in two days flat. The client actually paid early – first time in 3 years! Turns out not wrestling your tools saves:
- 2 hours daily on browser reloading gymnastics
- $400 monthly on extra debugging time charges
- My sanity (priceless)
The Unexpected Payoff
Remember that PayPal integration nightmare? Usually takes me a week. Set up Jitrnic with their API sandbox mode – live reloaded every fake transaction test. Finished in three days while binge-watching cooking shows. Client thought I moonlighted with Rocket Science degrees.
Only hiccup? Accidentally left dev server running overnight once. Woke up to laptop hotter than pizza oven. Now I double-tap Ctrl+C like ritual when shutting down.
Would I use it again? Already did – on three projects since that coffee shop disaster. Every time my terminal hits that sweet “Ready in 420ms” message? I smirk knowing 2009-me would be so damn jealous.
