Node-main script not executed with Nw-react-script - node.js

Question

I'm trying to create a Desktop App which is using create-nw-react-app and Sqlite.
Since trying to compile native modules with NW.js is a nightmare, I'm trying to start a server with express before the frontend loads using node-main feature in package.json.
But when calling nw-react-scripts start, I found that the node-main script is not executed. If I open a separate terminal running the express server it works.
How can I tell NW to start the server before starting react application?
my package.json
{
"name": "ultimo",
"node-main": "api/server.js",
"version": "0.1.0",
"private": true,
"dependencies": {
"#testing-library/jest-dom": "^5.11.4",
"#testing-library/react": "^11.1.0",
"#testing-library/user-event": "^12.1.10",
"#types/jest": "^26.0.15",
"#types/node": "^12.0.0",
"#types/nw.js": "^0.13.13",
"#types/react": "^17.0.0",
"#types/react-dom": "^17.0.0",
"better-sqlite3": "^8.0.1",
"body-parser": "^1.20.1",
"cors": "^2.8.5",
"express": "^4.18.2",
"express-session": "^1.17.3",
"nw-react-scripts": "4.0.4",
"react": "^18.2.0",
"react-dom": "^18.2.0",
"typescript": "^4.1.2",
"web-vitals": "^1.0.1"
},
"scripts": {
"start": "nw-react-scripts start",
"build": "nw-react-scripts build",
"test": "nw-react-scripts test",
"eject": "nw-react-scripts eject"
},
"eslintConfig": {
"extends": [
"nw-react-app",
"nw-react-app/jest"
]
},
"browserslist": {
"production": [
">0.2%",
"not dead",
"not op_mini all"
],
"development": [
"last 1 chrome version",
"last 1 firefox version",
"last 1 safari version"
]
},
"main": "index.html",
"nwBuilder": {
"//": "https://github.com/nwjs-community/nw-builder",
"platforms": [
"osx64",
"win32",
"win64"
],
"version": "latest",
"flavor": "normal",
"buildDir": "./build",
"cacheDir": "./cache",
"macIcns": "./src/logo.icns"
},
"devDependencies": {
"concurrently": "^7.6.0",
"wait-on": "^7.0.1"
}
}
I have tried to modify to script start into concurrently \"node api/server.js\" \"nw-react-scripts start\" and it works, but it's only for development.

Answer 1

You haven't provided enough information. This works just fine with NW.js 0.71.0:
package.json:
{
"name": "test",
"main": "index.html",
"node-main": "node-main.js",
}
node-main.js:
console.log('hello world');
index.html:
Test
Run the app, inspect background page, note that it shows "hello world" in the console. If yours doesn't work, there's a bug in api/server.js.
Edit: This could be caused by nw-react-scripts. Since create-nw-react-app doesn't seem to be maintained anymore, you may want to look into other options. You can use the following as an initial template: https://github.com/nwutils/nw-react-example