Autoreload

Autoreload refers to a feature in software systems that automatically reloads code, configurations, or resources when the underlying files change. The aim is to reflect edits without manually restarting processes, thereby reducing development downtime. Implementation generally relies on a file watcher that detects changes and triggers a reload or restart of the running program. Watchers may use OS facilities such as inotify on Linux, other platform-specific notification systems, or polling as a fallback. Reloads can involve restarting the process or reloading modules in memory, with varying levels of fidelity and potential side effects.

In Python's interactive environment, an autoreload extension allows modules to be automatically re-imported before code execution. The relevant magic commands enable automatic reloading of all modules or specific modules, helping reflected edits appear in a live session. However, some changes may require a full restart or may not propagate to objects already bound to older code.

In web development, autoreload is commonly encountered in development servers. Frameworks like Django offer automatic server restarts when code changes are detected, improving the feedback loop during development. Other ecosystems provide similar reloader behavior or hot-reloading tools for front-end assets. In production, autoreload is typically disabled because it can introduce instability and performance overhead; explicit deployment and restarts are preferred.

Limitations include incomplete reloading of state, potential inconsistencies from partially updated modules, and increased resource usage. Autoreload is primarily a development and testing aid rather than a production-grade deployment strategy. See also hot reloading, live reload, and watch mode.