PortGhost

Overview

Resolve network port conflicts and get back to coding instantly. PortGhost is a custom-built Windows desktop utility designed to eliminate a common bottleneck in software development: the dreaded "address already in use" error. By instantly mapping blocked network ports to their owning processes, PortGhost allows developers to clear conflicts with a single click, saving time and reducing friction during the development loop.

The Challenge

Developers frequently encounter stuck processes that block network ports (e.g., 3000, 8080, 5173, 4200), forcing them to dig through Task Manager or fight with command-line tools like netstat and taskkill. This interruption breaks the development flow and wastes valuable time during iterative coding sessions.

Our Solution

PortGhost is built on the highly performant .NET 10 framework using C# and WPF, leveraging native Windows APIs for sub-second process identification. It showcases robust Windows desktop development practices with automated CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions) for both standalone executables and Microsoft Store MSIX packages. The solution features high-performance detection, automated resolution with "Auto-Bust" capabilities, a developer-centric UX with port presets (React, Next.js, Node.js, Angular), safe-mode toggles to prevent accidental system process termination, and zero-dependency deployment as a self-contained single-file executable.