A developer built PortPilot to solve the common frustration of managing localhost ports. The free, open-source desktop app provides a clean dashboard to scan TCP ports, kill processes, and register projects. It auto-detects Node.js, Python, Docker, and other frameworks by reading configuration files, aiming to replace repetitive terminal commands.

The tool addresses daily pain points like zombie processes from yesterday's work and forgotten app-port mappings. Instead of using Task Manager or `lsof`/`netstat` commands, developers get a unified interface with one-click kill actions, port conflict resolution, and visual feedback for starting and stopping apps.

Built with Electron 27 and vanilla JavaScript, PortPilot avoids framework bloat, resulting in a ~70MB install. It includes Playwright end-to-end tests, system tray integration, and an MCP server for control via AI coding assistants. Windows and Linux builds are available, with macOS and remote monitoring considered for future updates.