Caddy API Client for Node.js (NPM)

What is the Caddy API Client for Node.js?

The Caddy API Client for Node.js is a freshly released open-source library that allows developers to interact with Caddy’s JSON Admin API directly from Node.js or Bun applications. Created by the engineering team at Accelerated Software Development (ASD), this tool is designed to help developers dynamically manage and configure the Caddy webserver at runtime.

In modern software development, being able to programmatically modify routing rules, reload server configurations, or implement automation without restarting services is more than just convenient — it's often necessary. With Caddy’s powerful Admin API, such capabilities have been possible for a while, but primarily through limited language support like Python. JavaScript, however, has lacked a robust and production-ready client… until now.

This new NPM package fills that gap. Whether you're building microservices, reverse proxies, or fully dynamic web applications, this client bridges the gap between your code and your web infrastructure.

The Role of Caddy in ASD CLI

At ASD, Caddy plays a crucial role as the central webserver powering their Accelerated Software Development Command Line Interface (ASD CLI). Think of it as the main traffic controller that securely and efficiently routes all incoming requests to their respective destinations.

All network tunnels initiated by the CLI terminate at Caddy. From there, routing is handled dynamically, meaning the configuration of these tunnels — their routes, targets, and behaviors — can change at runtime. This level of flexibility is essential for the type of scalable, cloud-backed infrastructure that ASD aims to provide.

Security, performance, and ease of use are the cornerstones of Caddy’s implementation within ASD CLI. By managing all network operations through a single, API-controllable point, the platform gains both robustness and adaptability.

Why Build a New Client?

You might be wondering: why build a brand-new API client when one already exists in Python?

Well, the answer is straightforward. ASD's CLI is built using Node.js and Bun — JavaScript runtimes — and there wasn’t a production-level, battle-tested client available for the Caddy Admin API in that ecosystem. Relying on external Python-based tooling would introduce unnecessary dependencies, complexity, and performance bottlenecks.

Rather than waiting for someone else to fill this gap, the team took matters into their own hands. They used the existing Python client as a blueprint, replicating its core functionalities and refining the developer experience specifically for JavaScript environments.

This decision wasn't just about internal needs. It also signals a broader commitment to the open-source community: sharing tools that make high-performance, dynamically configurable web infrastructure available to more developers, regardless of their language preferences.

Node.js & Bun: The Target Runtime Environments

Node.js and Bun are two powerhouses in the modern JavaScript runtime world. With millions of developers relying on them to build servers, APIs, and automation tools, their relevance cannot be overstated.

This new Caddy API Client was designed specifically with these environments in mind. It’s fully compatible with Node.js (for those who prefer stability and long-term support) and Bun (for those seeking lightning-fast execution and native module support).

Why target these runtimes?

Widespread adoption: Many infrastructure tools, including ASD CLI, run on Node.js.
Performance: Bun's performance advantages align perfectly with the need for fast, real-time routing changes.
Ecosystem tools: JavaScript developers can now plug into Caddy without switching contexts or learning a new language.

In essence, the library empowers modern developers where they already are — in JavaScript ecosystems — without asking them to compromise.

Implementation Details

The design philosophy behind the client was clear: simple, reliable, and familiar.

To make the learning curve smooth, the team mirrored the Python Caddy API client’s interface wherever applicable. This decision ensures that developers migrating from or integrating with other languages won’t face major inconsistencies.

Under the hood, the client communicates directly with Caddy’s JSON Admin API. This means everything from configuring routes, enabling plugins, modifying TLS settings, or reloading modules can be done through a few lines of JavaScript.

Other notable implementation points include:

Built with TypeScript for type safety
Fully asynchronous with native Promises
Structured error handling and validation
Modular design for future expansion

Whether you're tweaking a single route or overhauling your entire configuration, this client makes it all seamless and programmatic.

Core Features of the Caddy API Client

So, what can you actually do with this client?

Here’s a rundown of its core capabilities:

Runtime Configuration Updates
Modify routes, reverse proxies, middleware, and modules without restarting Caddy.
Live Routing Changes
Instantly update which services or ports Caddy directs traffic to.
TLS and Security Control
Automate certificate management, HTTPS redirection, and access control.
Module Management
Enable or disable Caddy modules dynamically through code.
JSON Snapshot and Restore
Export full configurations and reload them in different environments.

These features unlock a wide range of use cases, from live deployment scenarios to zero-downtime server reconfigurations. In high-availability systems, that kind of agility is a game-changer.

Who Will Benefit From This Library?

This Caddy API Client isn’t just a niche tool built for a specific internal use. It’s a versatile utility that brings real value to a wide spectrum of developers and operations teams. Let’s break down the primary audiences who stand to gain the most from this new NPM package:

Teams using Caddy instead of Nginx or Apache:
If your stack is already built on Caddy, this client lets you unlock its full dynamic potential. Instead of editing config files and restarting the server, you can update everything live — with zero downtime.
Developers needing real-time route management:
Building a SaaS platform with dynamic subdomains? Hosting user-specific environments on the fly? This client makes it easy to add or remove routes on demand via simple JavaScript calls.
DevOps engineers automating infrastructure workflows:
Combine this client with CI/CD pipelines to reload Caddy configurations automatically when new microservices are deployed, or when DNS records change.
Node.js/Bun app developers seeking better integration:
If you’re already building your backend in Node.js or Bun, why not manage your webserver in the same language? This means fewer tools, less context-switching, and faster development.
Enterprise environments with complex needs:
In systems where traffic routing, load balancing, or service discovery needs to be adjusted on the fly — often through automation — this client provides the needed flexibility without sacrificing control or visibility.

Whether you're a solo developer tinkering with side projects or part of a large platform team running thousands of domains, this library removes friction from managing Caddy in a programmatic, scalable way.

Key Advantages Over Traditional Servers

Why not just use Nginx, Apache, or another well-known server?

Good question. The real edge here lies in Caddy’s modern architecture and automation-first design. Combine that with this new JavaScript API client, and you're looking at a huge step forward in developer experience and system performance.

Here are some standout advantages:

Automatic HTTPS:
Caddy handles TLS certs automatically — including renewals — out of the box. With the client, you can control even this behavior dynamically.
Configuration Without Restarts:
Traditional servers often require a restart or reload for configuration changes. With the JSON Admin API (and now this client), you can apply updates live — in milliseconds.
JSON-Based Configuration:
Say goodbye to rigid or cryptic config files. JSON is easier to parse, debug, and manipulate from code — and plays perfectly with JavaScript.
Extensible & Modular:
Need specific plugins or middleware? Caddy’s modular design lets you build the exact server you need, and the client supports configuring these modules in real-time.
Developer-Friendly:
Especially when paired with this API client, Caddy becomes a highly developer-centric tool that enables fast iteration and experimentation.
Security Built-In:
With secure defaults, automatic cert handling, and API-based controls, you reduce the chance of misconfigurations that could expose vulnerabilities.

Caddy is already an underappreciated gem in the webserver world. This client pushes it even closer to being the go-to server for modern web applications — especially those embracing JavaScript-first development.

First Public Release: A Milestone

January 5, 2025 marked an important day — the first public release of the Caddy API Client for NPM.

This release wasn’t just about hitting "publish" on a package. It represented the culmination of weeks (if not months) of internal usage, testing, and refinement. Although the client was already functional inside the ASD CLI, it hadn’t been packaged and documented for broader community use — until now.

By sharing the client early, the team hopes to gather feedback, uncover edge cases, and build a vibrant open-source community around this tool.

There’s a reason it was released ahead of full CLI integration: it’s ready to use today for your own projects. And while the broader integration work with the CLI is ongoing, early adopters can already benefit from its production-grade reliability and powerful features.

Library Highlights

This isn't just a hobby project or experimental package — it’s a core building block of ASD’s development toolchain. That means it comes with serious engineering effort, real-world testing, and active long-term support.

Here are some of the most exciting highlights:

Actively Maintained:
The team behind it is using it daily. Bug fixes, improvements, and new features will keep rolling in.
Production-Ready:
Already used in live environments with thousands of requests per second. This isn't alpha code — it's built for real workloads.
Generated with an Internal Agent Framework:
Leveraging proprietary automation tools, the client was generated and validated using internal agents to ensure API coverage, correctness, and performance.
Cloud-Backed Automation:
Integrated with cloud workflows for seamless deployments and updates — think of it as the infrastructure version of CI/CD.

The result? A polished, high-quality tool that’s usable out of the box but also extensible for power users and advanced scenarios.

Current Limitations and Roadmap

Let’s be honest — it’s early days, and no tool is perfect from day one.

As of now, the biggest limitation is that the client is not yet fully integrated into the ASD CLI. While that CLI uses the client under the hood, the public-facing interface is still being cleaned up and refactored for long-term maintainability.

That said, the roadmap looks bright:

Full CLI integration:
Once the CLI refactor is complete, users will have an even more seamless way to configure Caddy directly from terminal commands.
Advanced module support:
Future versions will include helpers and abstractions for popular Caddy modules.
Schema auto-generation:
Plans are in place to use the Caddy API schema to auto-generate typed methods for specific routes and configuration fields.
Testing harnesses and mocks:
For those integrating the client into CI/CD pipelines, more robust testing tools will soon be available.

Publishing early was a strategic choice: rather than waiting for perfection, ASD chose early utility over delayed polish. And now, you get to help shape its direction.

Open Source and Community Involvement

One of the best parts? This project is open source, hosted publicly on GitHub, and welcoming contributions from developers of all levels.

Found a bug?
File an issue on GitHub.
Have a feature idea?
Open a discussion or submit a PR.
Want to understand how it works?
Browse the well-commented source code.

The team behind this library is actively monitoring the repo, responding to feedback, and improving the client in real-time. This isn’t abandonware — it’s a living, breathing project with strong backing and real usage.

GitHub Repository:
https://github.com/asd-engineering/asd-caddy-api-client

Installation via NPM

Getting started with the Caddy API Client is as easy as installing any other NPM package. Whether you’re using npm, yarn, or bun, the setup is straightforward and well-documented.

Here’s how to install it using your preferred package manager:

# Using npm

npm install @accelerated-software-development/caddy-api-client

# Using yarn

yarn add @accelerated-software-development/caddy-api-client

# Using bun

bun add @accelerated-software-development/caddy-api-client

This command adds the package to your project dependencies, making it ready to import and use across your codebase. The package comes bundled with type definitions for TypeScript users, ensuring proper IntelliSense and compile-time checks.

You can also find the official NPM listing here:
👉 https://www.npmjs.com/package/@accelerated-software-development/caddy-api-client

Installation is just step one. Once installed, the real magic begins.

Conclusion: Unlocking Caddy’s Power Through Node.js

The release of the Caddy API Client for Node.js is a major milestone — not just for ASD but for the wider JavaScript infrastructure ecosystem. It bridges a long-standing gap, bringing dynamic Caddy configuration into the hands of JavaScript developers worldwide.

By combining the performance and elegance of Caddy with the familiarity and flexibility of Node.js or Bun, this library opens the door to new levels of automation, scalability, and developer experience. Whether you’re running a global SaaS platform or just tinkering with your home lab setup, it’s a powerful tool to have in your arsenal.

And because it’s open-source, you’re invited to shape its future. Submit issues, share use cases, and contribute code — or just install it and start building better web services today.