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PM2

PM2 and FlowLayer can both supervise processes, but they are optimized for different workflows.

What this tool is good at​

PM2 is strong for Node.js process management, especially on persistent hosts:

  • process supervision and restart policies
  • Node-centric deployment/runtime habits
  • mature operational patterns for long-running Node services

Where FlowLayer differs​

FlowLayer is not Node-specific. It targets polyglot multi-service runtime orchestration in development sessions.

Key differences:

  • service topology across multiple languages and runtimes
  • explicit dependency ordering and readiness-aware startup
  • centralized session logs and runtime actions from flowlayer-client-tui
  • remote control of one shared runtime session

When to choose FlowLayer​

Choose FlowLayer when:

  • your stack spans multiple services and languages
  • startup order across dependencies matters during development
  • you need one place to operate and inspect a complete local stack

When not to choose FlowLayer​

Prefer PM2 when:

  • your main problem is production-style Node.js process supervision
  • your workflow is centered on PM2 operational features
  • multi-service cross-language topology is not the primary need

Honest summary​

FlowLayer does not replace PM2 as a Node-focused process manager.

PM2 is often the better fit for Node service supervision, while FlowLayer is useful for polyglot, topology-aware development orchestration.