Merge pull request roperi#2 from lpmi-13/add_concurrent_start

add a concurrent start command for easier local dev

README.md

@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ Install the following prerequisites:
 
 #### 1. Create a virtual environment
 
-From the **root** directory, run:
+From the **root** directory of the project, run:
 
 ```bash
 cd backend
@@ -181,22 +181,12 @@ npm install
 
 ### Run the application
 
-To run the application, you need to have both the backend and the frontend up and running.
-
-#### 1. Run backend
+To run the application, you need to have both the backend and the frontend up and running. This is accomplished by using the `concurrently` npm package.
 
-From the **backend** directory, run:
-
-```bash
-python manage.py runserver
-```
-
-#### 2. Run frontend
-
-From the **frontend** directory, run:
+From the **root** directory, run:
 
 ```bash
-npm start
+npm start --prefix frontend
 ```
 
 #### 3. View the application

frontend/package.json

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
     "web-vitals": "^3.4.0"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "start": "react-scripts start",
+    "start": "concurrently \"python ../backend/manage.py runserver\" \"react-scripts start\"",
     "build": "react-scripts build",
     "test": "react-scripts test",
     "eject": "react-scripts eject"
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
     ]
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@types/leaflet": "^1.9.3"
+    "@types/leaflet": "^1.9.3",
+    "concurrently": "^8.2.2"
   }
 }