Difference between `node /* ... */` and `npx hardhat run /* ... */`

Question

When I run the following commands:

• Terminal 1: npx hardhat node
• Terminal 2: npx hardhat run scripts/sample-script.js --network localhost

I see the blockchain node created on terminal 1 execute things as I'd expect:

But if I run the following commands:

• Terminal 1: npx hardhat node (no changes)
• Terminal 2: node scripts/sample-script.js --network localhost

I see no activity on Terminal 1.

So what's the difference between node /* ... */ and npx hardhat run /* ... */?

I'm running the standard sample-script.js (pasted below without its original comments):

const hre = require("hardhat");

async function main() {
  const Greeter = await hre.ethers.getContractFactory("Greeter");
  const greeter = await Greeter.deploy("Hello, Hardhat!");

  await greeter.deployed();

  console.log("Greeter deployed to:", greeter.address);
}

main()
  .then(() => process.exit(0))
  .catch((error) => {
    console.error(error);
    process.exit(1);
  });

Answer 1

npx hardhat node and npx hardhat run are both tasks that come by default in hardhat. You can check all defined tasks with the following commands: npx hardhat or npx hardhat help.

Here you have that:

• node: Starts a JSON-RPC server on top of Hardhat EVM;
• run: Runs a user-defined script after compiling the project

You can also create your own tasks. Take a look at the docs.