# Updating flow.json while while Node-RED is running (as a service): recommended?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/updating-flow-json-while-while-node-red-is-running-as-a-service-recommended/80387>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [7 August 2023 18:22 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/updating-flow-json-while-while-node-red-is-running-as-a-service-recommended/80387 "2023-08-07T18:22:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![raspberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@raspberry](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/raspberry)\
**Post date:** [7 August 2023 18:22 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/updating-flow-json-while-while-node-red-is-running-as-a-service-recommended/80387/1 "2023-08-07T18:22:21Z")

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Hey all, I have my Node-RED project tracking a remote repository on GitHub. The usual flow files are hosted (flow.json, package.json, credentials)

Occasionally I will "git fetch, git pull" while Node-RED is running, overwriting the flow.json file, then I just restart the Node-RED service.

However, the overly-precautious part of me prefers to (1) stop node-red as a service, (2) pull flow.json from GitHub, (3) start Node-RED with the new flow file.

This comes from me not fully understanding the Node-RED runtime, so I was wondering if any Node-RED experts here can shed some light on this? What are the risks (if any) of overwriting flow.json, package.json, and the credentials file while Node-RED is running that flow?

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**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [7 August 2023 20:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/updating-flow-json-while-while-node-red-is-running-as-a-service-recommended/80387/2 "2023-08-07T20:37:36Z")

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A running version of node-red does not look at the flows file, so there is no harm updating then restarting node-red. Provided there is no danger of someone deploying while you are messing with the file, of course.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [21 August 2023 20:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/updating-flow-json-while-while-node-red-is-running-as-a-service-recommended/80387/3 "2023-08-21T20:37:40Z")

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