Using REPL without build

[dvd101x]

When doing changes to the source code the REPL doesn't see the changes until I build. The documentation states that REPL doesn't require to build on every little change. I would like to know if I'm doing something wrong.

Steps to reproduce

1. Make a change in the source files
2. Run ./bin/repl.js
3. See my change is not implemented
4. Exit REPL
5. Run npm run build
6. Run ./bin/repl.js
7. See my change implemented

For debugging purposes, bin/repl.js provides a REPL (Read Evaluate Print Loop) for interactive testing of mathjs without having to build new build files after every little change to the source files. You can either start it directly (./bin/repl.js) or via node (node bin/repl.js). https://mathjs.org/docs/command_line_interface.html#command-line-debugging-repl

[kungfooman]

Looks like it's resolving a build package from this commit on: 6f00715

[josdejong]

Good point. The REPL was created in 2015 (9 years ago), and was changed to use the build in 2020 (4 years ago). At that time we should have updated the docs accordingly, since we now need a build step.

For now I've updated the documentation about the REPL. It would be nice to be able to use the REPL (or the library itself) without build step, but I think that is not possible right now.

[josdejong]

See 5fb909a

[josdejong]

The docs are updated now in v12.3.1

[dvd101x]

Thank you Jos!