{
  "id": 4200653,
  "title": "🚀 A Tiny Developer Tool I Built for My Node.js Workflow",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/a-tiny-developer-tool-i-built-for-my-node-js-workflow",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-29T13:19:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/abmdevx/a-tiny-developer-tool-i-built-for-my-nodejs-workflow-5a68"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "While crafting Node.js and Express applications, I observed a repetitive occurrence of generating JWT secrets for my .env files. Typically, I would either: seek an online secret generator, execute a lengthy Node.js command manually, or copy and paste the generated value into my .env file. Although straightforward, this task seemed redundant when performed frequently. Thus, I devised my own compact Windows command named jwt. Now, I merely need to type jwt to obtain a secure random secret instantly. An added feature allows jwt 64 to generate a 64-byte random secret instead of the default 32-byte secret.\n\nTo develop this tool, I utilized Node.js's built-in crypto module, eliminating the need for supplementary npm packages. Initially, I generated a directory: C:\\Users\\YOUR_USERNAME\\bin, where I subsequently created a file titled jwt.cmd. The contents of this file included:\n\n@echo off\nif %~1 == (\nset bytes=32\n) else (\nset bytes=%~1\n)\nnode -e \"console.log(require(crypto).randomBytes(%bytes%).toString('hex'))\"\n\nIn this process, %~1 symbolizes the initial argument supplied to the command. Consequently, jwt indicates no argument was provided, thus: bytes = 32. Conversely, jwt 64 sets: bytes = 64. Subsequently, Node.js executes crypto.randomBytes(bytes), generating cryptographically secure random bytes. Finally, .toString('hex') transforms these bytes into a hexadecimal string. For instance, jwt 32 results in 64 hexadecimal characters, while jwt 64 yields 128 hexadecimal characters.\n\nLastly, I ensured the bin folder was accessible system-wide by adding it to the Windows User PATH. I navigated to Windows Search, Environment Variables, edited the system environment variables, selected User variables → Path → Edit → New, and appended: C:\\Users\\YOUR_USERNAME\\bin. After restarting my terminal, Windows could locate the jwt.cmd from any directory. Now, I can utilize CMD, PowerShell, or the VS Code terminal to simply execute: jwt or: jwt 64.\n\nAlthough this may appear as a minor automation, it imparted valuable knowledge regarding Windows PATH, .cmd files, command-line arguments, and Node's crypto module. Significantly, it eliminated a repetitive task from my development workflow, illustrating that enhanced productivity often stems from automating mundane steps.",
  "summary": "While working on Node.js + Express projects, I noticed I was repeatedly generating JWT secrets for my .env files. Usually, I would either: → Search for an online secret generator → Run a long Node.js command manually → Copy the generated value → Paste it into .env It's not difficult, but when you're doing it repeatedly, why not automate it? So I created my own tiny Windows command called jwt .…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}