diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..511e8636
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+// Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.
+// Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.
+// For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
+{
+  "version": "0.2.0",
+  "configurations": [
+    {
+      "type": "node",
+      "request": "launch",
+      "name": "Debug and Watch",
+      "runtimeArgs": ["-r", "ts-node/register", "-r", "tsconfig-paths/register", "--watch-path", "src"],
+      "args": ["${workspaceFolder}/src/index.ts"],
+      "internalConsoleOptions": "openOnSessionStart",
+      "console": "internalConsole"
+    }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 5e075bfd..482647ab 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
         "eslint-plugin-prettier": "^5.2.3",
         "morgan": "^1.10.0",
         "prettier": "^3.4.2",
+        "ts-node": "^10.9.2",
         "ts-node-dev": "^2.0.0",
         "tsconfig-paths": "^4.2.0",
         "typescript": ">=4.7.4 <5.6.0"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 75dd4d43..63423569 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   "scripts": {
     "start": "node --import ./build/src/pathman.js build/src/index.js",
     "dev": "ts-node-dev --openssl-legacy-provider -r tsconfig-paths/register src/index.ts ",
+    "dev2": "node --watch --loader=ts-node/esm /src/index.ts",
     "build": "tsc && copyfiles static/webui/** build",
     "lint": "eslint --ext .ts .",
     "lint:fix": "eslint --fix --ext .ts .",
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@
     "eslint-plugin-prettier": "^5.2.3",
     "morgan": "^1.10.0",
     "prettier": "^3.4.2",
+    "ts-node": "^10.9.2",
     "ts-node-dev": "^2.0.0",
     "tsconfig-paths": "^4.2.0",
     "typescript": ">=4.7.4 <5.6.0"
diff --git a/src/utils/logger.ts b/src/utils/logger.ts
index 2ca65ec6..4a8e85f1 100644
--- a/src/utils/logger.ts
+++ b/src/utils/logger.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ const combinedLog = new transports.DailyRotateFile({
 });
 
 const consoleLog = new transports.Console({
+    forceConsole: true,
     format: format.combine(
         format.colorize(),
         format.timestamp({ format: "YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ss:SSS" }), // uses local timezone