PM2 vs Forever: What are the differences?

PM2 and Forever are both process management tools used in Node.js applications, but there are several key differences between the two:

1. Performance: PM2 is known for its superior performance compared to Forever. It boasts faster startup times and better memory management, making it a preferred choice for high-performance applications.

2. Cluster Mode: PM2 provides built-in cluster management capabilities, allowing your application to scale horizontally by running multiple instances of the same process. On the other hand, Forever does not offer cluster mode by default, requiring additional configuration to achieve similar scaling capabilities.

3. Built-in Load Balancer: Another significant difference is that PM2 includes a built-in load balancer, making it easier to distribute incoming requests evenly across multiple instances of your application. Forever does not offer this feature by default.

4. Logs and Monitoring: PM2 offers comprehensive logging and monitoring features, including real-time logs and CPU/memory monitoring for each process. These features can greatly simplify debugging and troubleshooting. In contrast, Forever provides basic logging capabilities but lacks the advanced monitoring capabilities of PM2.

5. Auto-Reload: PM2 offers an auto-reload feature that automatically restarts your application when changes are detected in the codebase. In comparison, Forever requires manual intervention to restart the application after code changes.

6. Integration with Keymetrics: PM2 integrates seamlessly with Keymetrics, providing advanced analytics and management capabilities for your application. Forever does not have direct integration with Keymetrics.

In summary, PM2 and Forever are both process management tools for Node.js applications, but PM2 offers superior performance, built-in cluster management, load balancing, advanced logging, auto-reload, and integration with Keymetrics. Forever, on the other hand, provides basic process management capabilities.