diff --git a/cli/args/flags.rs b/cli/args/flags.rs
index d57f78aff3..71398d355c 100644
--- a/cli/args/flags.rs
+++ b/cli/args/flags.rs
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ use log::Level;
 use std::env;
 use std::ffi::OsString;
 use std::net::SocketAddr;
+use std::num::NonZeroU16;
 use std::num::NonZeroU32;
 use std::num::NonZeroU8;
 use std::num::NonZeroUsize;
@@ -272,6 +273,26 @@ impl RunFlags {
   }
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub struct ServeFlags {
+  pub script: String,
+  pub watch: Option<WatchFlagsWithPaths>,
+  pub port: NonZeroU16,
+  pub host: String,
+}
+
+impl ServeFlags {
+  #[cfg(test)]
+  pub fn new_default(script: String, port: u16, host: &str) -> Self {
+    Self {
+      script,
+      watch: None,
+      port: NonZeroU16::new(port).unwrap(),
+      host: host.to_owned(),
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Default, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
 pub struct WatchFlags {
   pub hmr: bool,
@@ -366,6 +387,7 @@ pub enum DenoSubcommand {
   Lint(LintFlags),
   Repl(ReplFlags),
   Run(RunFlags),
+  Serve(ServeFlags),
   Task(TaskFlags),
   Test(TestFlags),
   Types,
@@ -776,7 +798,7 @@ impl Flags {
     use DenoSubcommand::*;
 
     match &self.subcommand {
-      Run(RunFlags { script, .. }) => {
+      Run(RunFlags { script, .. }) | Serve(ServeFlags { script, .. }) => {
         let module_specifier = resolve_url_or_path(script, current_dir).ok()?;
         if module_specifier.scheme() == "file" {
           let p = module_specifier
@@ -1063,6 +1085,7 @@ pub fn flags_from_vec(args: Vec<OsString>) -> clap::error::Result<Flags> {
       "lsp" => lsp_parse(&mut flags, &mut m),
       "repl" => repl_parse(&mut flags, &mut m),
       "run" => run_parse(&mut flags, &mut m, app)?,
+      "serve" => serve_parse(&mut flags, &mut m, app)?,
       "task" => task_parse(&mut flags, &mut m),
       "test" => test_parse(&mut flags, &mut m),
       "types" => types_parse(&mut flags, &mut m),
@@ -1198,6 +1221,7 @@ fn clap_root() -> Command {
         .global(true),
     )
     .subcommand(run_subcommand())
+    .subcommand(serve_subcommand())
     .defer(|cmd| {
       cmd
         .subcommand(add_subcommand())
@@ -2265,6 +2289,59 @@ Specifying the filename '-' to read the file from stdin.
     )
 }
 
+fn serve_host_validator(host: &str) -> Result<String, String> {
+  if Url::parse(&format!("internal://{host}:9999")).is_ok() {
+    Ok(host.to_owned())
+  } else {
+    Err(format!("Bad serve host: {host}"))
+  }
+}
+
+fn serve_subcommand() -> Command {
+  runtime_args(Command::new("serve"), true, true)
+    .arg(
+      Arg::new("port")
+        .long("port")
+        .help("The TCP port to serve on, defaulting to 8000.")
+        .value_parser(value_parser!(NonZeroU16)),
+    )
+    .arg(
+      Arg::new("host")
+        .long("host")
+        .help("The TCP address to serve on, defaulting to 0.0.0.0 (all interfaces).")
+        .value_parser(serve_host_validator),
+    )
+    .arg(check_arg(false))
+    .arg(watch_arg(true))
+    .arg(watch_exclude_arg())
+    .arg(hmr_arg(true))
+    .arg(no_clear_screen_arg())
+    .arg(executable_ext_arg())
+    .arg(
+      script_arg()
+        .required_unless_present("v8-flags")
+        .trailing_var_arg(true),
+    )
+    .arg(env_file_arg())
+    .arg(no_code_cache_arg())
+    .about("Run a server")
+    .long_about("Run a server defined in a main module
+
+The serve command uses the default exports of the main module to determine which
+servers to start.
+
+See https://docs.deno.com/runtime/manual/tools/serve for
+more detailed information.
+
+Start a server defined in server.ts:
+
+  deno serve server.ts
+
+Start a server defined in server.ts, watching for changes and running on port 5050:
+
+  deno serve --watch --port 5050 server.ts")
+}
+
 fn task_subcommand() -> Command {
   Command::new("task")
     .about("Run a task defined in the configuration file")
@@ -3863,6 +3940,63 @@ fn run_parse(
   Ok(())
 }
 
+fn serve_parse(
+  flags: &mut Flags,
+  matches: &mut ArgMatches,
+  app: Command,
+) -> clap::error::Result<()> {
+  // deno serve implies --allow-net=host:port
+  let port = matches
+    .remove_one::<NonZeroU16>("port")
+    .unwrap_or(NonZeroU16::new(8000).unwrap());
+  let host = matches
+    .remove_one::<String>("host")
+    .unwrap_or_else(|| "0.0.0.0".to_owned());
+
+  runtime_args_parse(flags, matches, true, true);
+  // If the user didn't pass --allow-net, add this port to the network
+  // allowlist. If the host is 0.0.0.0, we add :{port} and allow the same network perms
+  // as if it was passed to --allow-net directly.
+  let allowed = flags_net::parse(vec![if host == "0.0.0.0" {
+    format!(":{port}")
+  } else {
+    format!("{host}:{port}")
+  }])?;
+  match &mut flags.allow_net {
+    None => flags.allow_net = Some(allowed),
+    Some(v) => {
+      if !v.is_empty() {
+        v.extend(allowed);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  flags.code_cache_enabled = !matches.get_flag("no-code-cache");
+
+  let mut script_arg =
+    matches.remove_many::<String>("script_arg").ok_or_else(|| {
+      let mut app = app;
+      let subcommand = &mut app.find_subcommand_mut("serve").unwrap();
+      subcommand.error(
+        clap::error::ErrorKind::MissingRequiredArgument,
+        "[SCRIPT_ARG] may only be omitted with --v8-flags=--help",
+      )
+    })?;
+
+  let script = script_arg.next().unwrap();
+  flags.argv.extend(script_arg);
+
+  ext_arg_parse(flags, matches);
+
+  flags.subcommand = DenoSubcommand::Serve(ServeFlags {
+    script,
+    watch: watch_arg_parse_with_paths(matches),
+    port,
+    host,
+  });
+
+  Ok(())
+}
+
 fn task_parse(flags: &mut Flags, matches: &mut ArgMatches) {
   flags.config_flag = matches
     .remove_one::<String>("config")
@@ -4858,7 +4992,7 @@ mod tests {
       r.unwrap(),
       Flags {
         subcommand: DenoSubcommand::Run(RunFlags::new_default(
-          "script.ts".to_string()
+          "script.ts".to_string(),
         )),
         v8_flags: svec!["--expose-gc", "--gc-stats=1"],
         code_cache_enabled: true,
@@ -4873,6 +5007,115 @@ mod tests {
       .contains("[SCRIPT_ARG] may only be omitted with --v8-flags=--help"));
   }
 
+  #[test]
+  fn serve_flags() {
+    let r = flags_from_vec(svec!["deno", "serve", "main.ts"]);
+    assert_eq!(
+      r.unwrap(),
+      Flags {
+        subcommand: DenoSubcommand::Serve(ServeFlags::new_default(
+          "main.ts".to_string(),
+          8000,
+          "0.0.0.0"
+        )),
+        allow_net: Some(vec![
+          "0.0.0.0:8000".to_string(),
+          "127.0.0.1:8000".to_string(),
+          "localhost:8000".to_string()
+        ]),
+        code_cache_enabled: true,
+        ..Flags::default()
+      }
+    );
+    let r = flags_from_vec(svec!["deno", "serve", "--port", "5000", "main.ts"]);
+    assert_eq!(
+      r.unwrap(),
+      Flags {
+        subcommand: DenoSubcommand::Serve(ServeFlags::new_default(
+          "main.ts".to_string(),
+          5000,
+          "0.0.0.0"
+        )),
+        allow_net: Some(vec![
+          "0.0.0.0:5000".to_string(),
+          "127.0.0.1:5000".to_string(),
+          "localhost:5000".to_string()
+        ]),
+        code_cache_enabled: true,
+        ..Flags::default()
+      }
+    );
+    let r = flags_from_vec(svec![
+      "deno",
+      "serve",
+      "--port",
+      "5000",
+      "--allow-net=example.com",
+      "main.ts"
+    ]);
+    assert_eq!(
+      r.unwrap(),
+      Flags {
+        subcommand: DenoSubcommand::Serve(ServeFlags::new_default(
+          "main.ts".to_string(),
+          5000,
+          "0.0.0.0"
+        )),
+        allow_net: Some(vec![
+          "example.com".to_string(),
+          "0.0.0.0:5000".to_string(),
+          "127.0.0.1:5000".to_string(),
+          "localhost:5000".to_string()
+        ]),
+        code_cache_enabled: true,
+        ..Flags::default()
+      }
+    );
+    let r = flags_from_vec(svec![
+      "deno",
+      "serve",
+      "--port",
+      "5000",
+      "--allow-net",
+      "main.ts"
+    ]);
+    assert_eq!(
+      r.unwrap(),
+      Flags {
+        subcommand: DenoSubcommand::Serve(ServeFlags::new_default(
+          "main.ts".to_string(),
+          5000,
+          "0.0.0.0"
+        )),
+        allow_net: Some(vec![]),
+        code_cache_enabled: true,
+        ..Flags::default()
+      }
+    );
+    let r = flags_from_vec(svec![
+      "deno",
+      "serve",
+      "--port",
+      "5000",
+      "--host",
+      "example.com",
+      "main.ts"
+    ]);
+    assert_eq!(
+      r.unwrap(),
+      Flags {
+        subcommand: DenoSubcommand::Serve(ServeFlags::new_default(
+          "main.ts".to_string(),
+          5000,
+          "example.com"
+        )),
+        allow_net: Some(vec!["example.com:5000".to_owned()]),
+        code_cache_enabled: true,
+        ..Flags::default()
+      }
+    );
+  }
+
   #[test]
   fn has_permission() {
     let r = flags_from_vec(svec!["deno", "run", "--allow-read", "x.ts"]);
diff --git a/cli/args/mod.rs b/cli/args/mod.rs
index aa3622d096..bb0ef1abac 100644
--- a/cli/args/mod.rs
+++ b/cli/args/mod.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ use std::env;
 use std::io::BufReader;
 use std::io::Cursor;
 use std::net::SocketAddr;
+use std::num::NonZeroU16;
 use std::num::NonZeroUsize;
 use std::path::Path;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
@@ -1022,6 +1023,22 @@ impl CliOptions {
     }
   }
 
+  pub fn serve_port(&self) -> Option<NonZeroU16> {
+    if let DenoSubcommand::Serve(flags) = self.sub_command() {
+      Some(flags.port)
+    } else {
+      None
+    }
+  }
+
+  pub fn serve_host(&self) -> Option<String> {
+    if let DenoSubcommand::Serve(flags) = self.sub_command() {
+      Some(flags.host.clone())
+    } else {
+      None
+    }
+  }
+
   pub fn enable_future_features(&self) -> bool {
     *DENO_FUTURE
   }
@@ -1062,6 +1079,10 @@ impl CliOptions {
             .map_err(AnyError::from)
         }
       }
+      DenoSubcommand::Serve(run_flags) => {
+        resolve_url_or_path(&run_flags.script, self.initial_cwd())
+          .map_err(AnyError::from)
+      }
       _ => {
         bail!("No main module.")
       }
diff --git a/cli/factory.rs b/cli/factory.rs
index 1a0584eeac..bfaf96f39c 100644
--- a/cli/factory.rs
+++ b/cli/factory.rs
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ impl CliFactory {
       // Warm up the caches we know we'll likely need based on the CLI mode
       match self.options.sub_command() {
         DenoSubcommand::Run(_)
+        | DenoSubcommand::Serve(_)
         | DenoSubcommand::Bench(_)
         | DenoSubcommand::Test(_)
         | DenoSubcommand::Check(_) => {
@@ -816,6 +817,8 @@ impl CliFactory {
       self.feature_checker().clone(),
       self.create_cli_main_worker_options()?,
       self.options.node_ipc_fd(),
+      self.options.serve_port(),
+      self.options.serve_host(),
       self.options.enable_future_features(),
       // TODO(bartlomieju): temporarily disabled
       // self.options.disable_deprecated_api_warning,
diff --git a/cli/main.rs b/cli/main.rs
index a4e93ca315..142ae017ce 100644
--- a/cli/main.rs
+++ b/cli/main.rs
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ use crate::util::display;
 use crate::util::v8::get_v8_flags_from_env;
 use crate::util::v8::init_v8_flags;
 
+use deno_runtime::WorkerExecutionMode;
 pub use deno_runtime::UNSTABLE_GRANULAR_FLAGS;
 
 use deno_core::anyhow::Context;
@@ -174,9 +175,12 @@ async fn run_subcommand(flags: Flags) -> Result<i32, AnyError> {
       if run_flags.is_stdin() {
         tools::run::run_from_stdin(flags).await
       } else {
-        tools::run::run_script(flags, run_flags).await
+        tools::run::run_script(WorkerExecutionMode::Run, flags, run_flags.watch).await
       }
     }),
+    DenoSubcommand::Serve(serve_flags) => spawn_subcommand(async move {
+      tools::run::run_script(WorkerExecutionMode::Serve, flags, serve_flags.watch).await
+    }),
     DenoSubcommand::Task(task_flags) => spawn_subcommand(async {
       tools::task::execute_script(flags, task_flags).await
     }),
diff --git a/cli/standalone/mod.rs b/cli/standalone/mod.rs
index 003e2bf793..8ff822f5a3 100644
--- a/cli/standalone/mod.rs
+++ b/cli/standalone/mod.rs
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ use deno_runtime::deno_tls::rustls::RootCertStore;
 use deno_runtime::deno_tls::RootCertStoreProvider;
 use deno_runtime::permissions::Permissions;
 use deno_runtime::permissions::PermissionsContainer;
+use deno_runtime::WorkerExecutionMode;
 use deno_runtime::WorkerLogLevel;
 use deno_semver::npm::NpmPackageReqReference;
 use import_map::parse_from_json;
@@ -567,6 +568,8 @@ pub async fn run(
       create_coverage_collector: None,
     },
     None,
+    None,
+    None,
     false,
     // TODO(bartlomieju): temporarily disabled
     // metadata.disable_deprecated_api_warning,
@@ -581,7 +584,11 @@ pub async fn run(
   deno_core::JsRuntime::init_platform(None);
 
   let mut worker = worker_factory
-    .create_main_worker(main_module.clone(), permissions)
+    .create_main_worker(
+      WorkerExecutionMode::Run,
+      main_module.clone(),
+      permissions,
+    )
     .await?;
 
   let exit_code = worker.run().await?;
diff --git a/cli/tools/bench/mod.rs b/cli/tools/bench/mod.rs
index 95986f3202..e2411ed125 100644
--- a/cli/tools/bench/mod.rs
+++ b/cli/tools/bench/mod.rs
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ use deno_core::PollEventLoopOptions;
 use deno_runtime::permissions::Permissions;
 use deno_runtime::permissions::PermissionsContainer;
 use deno_runtime::tokio_util::create_and_run_current_thread;
+use deno_runtime::WorkerExecutionMode;
 use indexmap::IndexMap;
 use indexmap::IndexSet;
 use log::Level;
@@ -204,6 +205,7 @@ async fn bench_specifier_inner(
 ) -> Result<(), AnyError> {
   let mut worker = worker_factory
     .create_custom_worker(
+      WorkerExecutionMode::Bench,
       specifier.clone(),
       PermissionsContainer::new(permissions),
       vec![ops::bench::deno_bench::init_ops(sender.clone())],
diff --git a/cli/tools/jupyter/mod.rs b/cli/tools/jupyter/mod.rs
index 64c8cd7dfc..6531b0339a 100644
--- a/cli/tools/jupyter/mod.rs
+++ b/cli/tools/jupyter/mod.rs
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ use deno_runtime::deno_io::Stdio;
 use deno_runtime::deno_io::StdioPipe;
 use deno_runtime::permissions::Permissions;
 use deno_runtime::permissions::PermissionsContainer;
+use deno_runtime::WorkerExecutionMode;
 use deno_terminal::colors;
 use tokio::sync::mpsc;
 use tokio::sync::mpsc::UnboundedSender;
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ pub async fn kernel(
 
   let mut worker = worker_factory
     .create_custom_worker(
+      WorkerExecutionMode::Jupyter,
       main_module.clone(),
       permissions,
       vec![
diff --git a/cli/tools/repl/mod.rs b/cli/tools/repl/mod.rs
index 03b8e512ee..d1c1cab713 100644
--- a/cli/tools/repl/mod.rs
+++ b/cli/tools/repl/mod.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use deno_core::serde_json;
 use deno_core::unsync::spawn_blocking;
 use deno_runtime::permissions::Permissions;
 use deno_runtime::permissions::PermissionsContainer;
+use deno_runtime::WorkerExecutionMode;
 use rustyline::error::ReadlineError;
 
 mod channel;
@@ -170,6 +171,7 @@ pub async fn run(flags: Flags, repl_flags: ReplFlags) -> Result<i32, AnyError> {
   let test_event_sender = worker.sender;
   let mut worker = worker_factory
     .create_custom_worker(
+      WorkerExecutionMode::Repl,
       main_module.clone(),
       permissions,
       vec![crate::ops::testing::deno_test::init_ops(test_event_sender)],
diff --git a/cli/tools/run/mod.rs b/cli/tools/run/mod.rs
index 793b55a8ac..9f4bfeb964 100644
--- a/cli/tools/run/mod.rs
+++ b/cli/tools/run/mod.rs
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@ use std::io::Read;
 use deno_core::error::AnyError;
 use deno_runtime::permissions::Permissions;
 use deno_runtime::permissions::PermissionsContainer;
+use deno_runtime::WorkerExecutionMode;
 
 use crate::args::EvalFlags;
 use crate::args::Flags;
-use crate::args::RunFlags;
 use crate::args::WatchFlagsWithPaths;
 use crate::factory::CliFactory;
 use crate::factory::CliFactoryBuilder;
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ use crate::util::file_watcher::WatcherRestartMode;
 pub mod hmr;
 
 pub async fn run_script(
+  mode: WorkerExecutionMode,
   flags: Flags,
-  run_flags: RunFlags,
+  watch: Option<WatchFlagsWithPaths>,
 ) -> Result<i32, AnyError> {
   if !flags.has_permission() && flags.has_permission_in_argv() {
     log::warn!(
@@ -33,8 +34,8 @@ To grant permissions, set them before the script argument. For example:
     );
   }
 
-  if let Some(watch_flags) = run_flags.watch {
-    return run_with_watch(flags, watch_flags).await;
+  if let Some(watch_flags) = watch {
+    return run_with_watch(mode, flags, watch_flags).await;
   }
 
   // TODO(bartlomieju): actually I think it will also fail if there's an import
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ To grant permissions, set them before the script argument. For example:
   )?);
   let worker_factory = factory.create_cli_main_worker_factory().await?;
   let mut worker = worker_factory
-    .create_main_worker(main_module, permissions)
+    .create_main_worker(mode, main_module, permissions)
     .await?;
 
   let exit_code = worker.run().await?;
@@ -98,7 +99,7 @@ pub async fn run_from_stdin(flags: Flags) -> Result<i32, AnyError> {
   });
 
   let mut worker = worker_factory
-    .create_main_worker(main_module, permissions)
+    .create_main_worker(WorkerExecutionMode::Run, main_module, permissions)
     .await?;
   let exit_code = worker.run().await?;
   Ok(exit_code)
@@ -107,6 +108,7 @@ pub async fn run_from_stdin(flags: Flags) -> Result<i32, AnyError> {
 // TODO(bartlomieju): this function is not handling `exit_code` set by the runtime
 // code properly.
 async fn run_with_watch(
+  mode: WorkerExecutionMode,
   flags: Flags,
   watch_flags: WatchFlagsWithPaths,
 ) -> Result<i32, AnyError> {
@@ -135,7 +137,7 @@ async fn run_with_watch(
         let mut worker = factory
           .create_cli_main_worker_factory()
           .await?
-          .create_main_worker(main_module, permissions)
+          .create_main_worker(mode, main_module, permissions)
           .await?;
 
         if watch_flags.hmr {
@@ -184,7 +186,7 @@ pub async fn eval_command(
   )?);
   let worker_factory = factory.create_cli_main_worker_factory().await?;
   let mut worker = worker_factory
-    .create_main_worker(main_module, permissions)
+    .create_main_worker(WorkerExecutionMode::Eval, main_module, permissions)
     .await?;
   let exit_code = worker.run().await?;
   Ok(exit_code)
diff --git a/cli/tools/test/mod.rs b/cli/tools/test/mod.rs
index 013d8c0848..ffa0fef9ee 100644
--- a/cli/tools/test/mod.rs
+++ b/cli/tools/test/mod.rs
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ use deno_runtime::permissions::Permissions;
 use deno_runtime::permissions::PermissionsContainer;
 use deno_runtime::tokio_util::create_and_run_current_thread;
 use deno_runtime::worker::MainWorker;
+use deno_runtime::WorkerExecutionMode;
 use indexmap::IndexMap;
 use indexmap::IndexSet;
 use log::Level;
@@ -583,6 +584,7 @@ async fn configure_main_worker(
 ) -> Result<(Option<Box<dyn CoverageCollector>>, MainWorker), anyhow::Error> {
   let mut worker = worker_factory
     .create_custom_worker(
+      WorkerExecutionMode::Test,
       specifier.clone(),
       PermissionsContainer::new(permissions),
       vec![ops::testing::deno_test::init_ops(worker_sender.sender)],
diff --git a/cli/worker.rs b/cli/worker.rs
index 7dbb9b177a..edc4ef907a 100644
--- a/cli/worker.rs
+++ b/cli/worker.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2024 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
 
+use std::num::NonZeroU16;
 use std::path::Path;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::rc::Rc;
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ use deno_runtime::web_worker::WebWorkerOptions;
 use deno_runtime::worker::MainWorker;
 use deno_runtime::worker::WorkerOptions;
 use deno_runtime::BootstrapOptions;
+use deno_runtime::WorkerExecutionMode;
 use deno_runtime::WorkerLogLevel;
 use deno_semver::npm::NpmPackageReqReference;
 use deno_semver::package::PackageReqReference;
@@ -142,6 +144,8 @@ struct SharedWorkerState {
   disable_deprecated_api_warning: bool,
   verbose_deprecated_api_warning: bool,
   code_cache: Option<Arc<dyn code_cache::CodeCache>>,
+  serve_port: Option<NonZeroU16>,
+  serve_host: Option<String>,
 }
 
 impl SharedWorkerState {
@@ -410,6 +414,8 @@ impl CliMainWorkerFactory {
     feature_checker: Arc<FeatureChecker>,
     options: CliMainWorkerOptions,
     node_ipc: Option<i64>,
+    serve_port: Option<NonZeroU16>,
+    serve_host: Option<String>,
     enable_future_features: bool,
     disable_deprecated_api_warning: bool,
     verbose_deprecated_api_warning: bool,
@@ -434,6 +440,8 @@ impl CliMainWorkerFactory {
         maybe_lockfile,
         feature_checker,
         node_ipc,
+        serve_port,
+        serve_host,
         enable_future_features,
         disable_deprecated_api_warning,
         verbose_deprecated_api_warning,
@@ -444,11 +452,13 @@ impl CliMainWorkerFactory {
 
   pub async fn create_main_worker(
     &self,
+    mode: WorkerExecutionMode,
     main_module: ModuleSpecifier,
     permissions: PermissionsContainer,
   ) -> Result<CliMainWorker, AnyError> {
     self
       .create_custom_worker(
+        mode,
         main_module,
         permissions,
         vec![],
@@ -459,6 +469,7 @@ impl CliMainWorkerFactory {
 
   pub async fn create_custom_worker(
     &self,
+    mode: WorkerExecutionMode,
     main_module: ModuleSpecifier,
     permissions: PermissionsContainer,
     custom_extensions: Vec<Extension>,
@@ -545,7 +556,7 @@ impl CliMainWorkerFactory {
     let maybe_inspector_server = shared.maybe_inspector_server.clone();
 
     let create_web_worker_cb =
-      create_web_worker_callback(shared.clone(), stdio.clone());
+      create_web_worker_callback(mode, shared.clone(), stdio.clone());
 
     let maybe_storage_key = shared
       .storage_key_resolver
@@ -600,6 +611,9 @@ impl CliMainWorkerFactory {
         disable_deprecated_api_warning: shared.disable_deprecated_api_warning,
         verbose_deprecated_api_warning: shared.verbose_deprecated_api_warning,
         future: shared.enable_future_features,
+        mode,
+        serve_port: shared.serve_port,
+        serve_host: shared.serve_host.clone(),
       },
       extensions: custom_extensions,
       startup_snapshot: crate::js::deno_isolate_init(),
@@ -745,6 +759,7 @@ impl CliMainWorkerFactory {
 }
 
 fn create_web_worker_callback(
+  mode: WorkerExecutionMode,
   shared: Arc<SharedWorkerState>,
   stdio: deno_runtime::deno_io::Stdio,
 ) -> Arc<CreateWebWorkerCb> {
@@ -758,7 +773,7 @@ fn create_web_worker_callback(
     let maybe_source_map_getter =
       shared.module_loader_factory.create_source_map_getter();
     let create_web_worker_cb =
-      create_web_worker_callback(shared.clone(), stdio.clone());
+      create_web_worker_callback(mode, shared.clone(), stdio.clone());
 
     let maybe_storage_key = shared
       .storage_key_resolver
@@ -805,6 +820,9 @@ fn create_web_worker_callback(
         disable_deprecated_api_warning: shared.disable_deprecated_api_warning,
         verbose_deprecated_api_warning: shared.verbose_deprecated_api_warning,
         future: shared.enable_future_features,
+        mode,
+        serve_port: shared.serve_port,
+        serve_host: shared.serve_host.clone(),
       },
       extensions: vec![],
       startup_snapshot: crate::js::deno_isolate_init(),
diff --git a/ext/http/00_serve.ts b/ext/http/00_serve.ts
index 1063f9691a..d19b62ddec 100644
--- a/ext/http/00_serve.ts
+++ b/ext/http/00_serve.ts
@@ -791,8 +791,37 @@ internals.upgradeHttpRaw = upgradeHttpRaw;
 internals.serveHttpOnListener = serveHttpOnListener;
 internals.serveHttpOnConnection = serveHttpOnConnection;
 
+function registerDeclarativeServer(exports) {
+  if (ObjectHasOwn(exports, "fetch")) {
+    if (typeof exports.fetch !== "function" || exports.fetch.length !== 1) {
+      throw new TypeError(
+        "Invalid type for fetch: must be a function with a single parameter",
+      );
+    }
+    return ({ servePort, serveHost }) => {
+      Deno.serve({
+        port: servePort,
+        hostname: serveHost,
+        onListen: ({ port, hostname }) => {
+          console.debug(
+            `%cdeno serve%c: Listening on %chttp://${hostname}:${port}/%c`,
+            "color: green",
+            "color: inherit",
+            "color: yellow",
+            "color: inherit",
+          );
+        },
+        handler: (req) => {
+          return exports.fetch(req);
+        },
+      });
+    };
+  }
+}
+
 export {
   addTrailers,
+  registerDeclarativeServer,
   serve,
   serveHttpOnConnection,
   serveHttpOnListener,
diff --git a/runtime/js/99_main.js b/runtime/js/99_main.js
index 8164e0c9a2..59d2a1434d 100644
--- a/runtime/js/99_main.js
+++ b/runtime/js/99_main.js
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ const {
   ObjectAssign,
   ObjectDefineProperties,
   ObjectDefineProperty,
+  ObjectHasOwn,
   ObjectKeys,
   ObjectPrototypeIsPrototypeOf,
   ObjectSetPrototypeOf,
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ const {
 const {
   isNativeError,
 } = core;
+import { registerDeclarativeServer } from "ext:deno_http/00_serve.ts";
 import * as event from "ext:deno_web/02_event.js";
 import * as location from "ext:deno_web/12_location.js";
 import * as version from "ext:runtime/01_version.ts";
@@ -679,6 +681,18 @@ const {
   target,
 } = op_snapshot_options();
 
+const executionModes = {
+  none: 0,
+  worker: 1,
+  run: 2,
+  repl: 3,
+  eval: 4,
+  test: 5,
+  bench: 6,
+  serve: 7,
+  jupyter: 8,
+};
+
 function bootstrapMainRuntime(runtimeOptions, warmup = false) {
   if (!warmup) {
     if (hasBootstrapped) {
@@ -695,8 +709,52 @@ function bootstrapMainRuntime(runtimeOptions, warmup = false) {
       7: shouldDisableDeprecatedApiWarning,
       8: shouldUseVerboseDeprecatedApiWarning,
       9: future,
+      10: mode,
+      11: servePort,
+      12: serveHost,
     } = runtimeOptions;
 
+    if (mode === executionModes.run || mode === executionModes.serve) {
+      let serve = undefined;
+      core.addMainModuleHandler((main) => {
+        if (ObjectHasOwn(main, "default")) {
+          try {
+            serve = registerDeclarativeServer(main.default);
+          } catch (e) {
+            if (mode === executionModes.serve) {
+              throw e;
+            }
+          }
+        }
+
+        if (mode === executionModes.serve && !serve) {
+          console.error(
+            `%cerror: %cdeno serve requires %cexport default { fetch }%c in the main module, did you mean to run \"deno run\"?`,
+            "color: yellow;",
+            "color: inherit;",
+            "font-weight: bold;",
+            "font-weight: normal;",
+          );
+          return;
+        }
+
+        if (serve) {
+          if (mode === executionModes.run) {
+            console.error(
+              `%cwarning: %cDetected %cexport default { fetch }%c, did you mean to run \"deno serve\"?`,
+              "color: yellow;",
+              "color: inherit;",
+              "font-weight: bold;",
+              "font-weight: normal;",
+            );
+          }
+          if (mode === executionModes.serve) {
+            serve({ servePort, serveHost });
+          }
+        }
+      });
+    }
+
     // TODO(iuioiua): remove in Deno v2. This allows us to dynamically delete
     // class properties within constructors for classes that are not defined
     // within the Deno namespace.
diff --git a/runtime/lib.rs b/runtime/lib.rs
index f33e9b7e33..ec751f207a 100644
--- a/runtime/lib.rs
+++ b/runtime/lib.rs
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ pub mod worker;
 
 mod worker_bootstrap;
 pub use worker_bootstrap::BootstrapOptions;
+pub use worker_bootstrap::WorkerExecutionMode;
 pub use worker_bootstrap::WorkerLogLevel;
 
 mod shared;
diff --git a/runtime/worker_bootstrap.rs b/runtime/worker_bootstrap.rs
index c019dae1ac..ee3b81c628 100644
--- a/runtime/worker_bootstrap.rs
+++ b/runtime/worker_bootstrap.rs
@@ -4,10 +4,36 @@ use deno_core::v8;
 use deno_core::ModuleSpecifier;
 use serde::Serialize;
 use std::cell::RefCell;
+use std::num::NonZeroU16;
 use std::thread;
 
 use deno_terminal::colors;
 
+/// The execution mode for this worker. Some modes may have implicit behaviour.
+#[derive(Copy, Clone)]
+#[repr(u8)]
+pub enum WorkerExecutionMode {
+  /// No special behaviour.
+  None,
+
+  /// Running in a worker.
+  Worker,
+  /// `deno run`
+  Run,
+  /// `deno repl`
+  Repl,
+  /// `deno eval`
+  Eval,
+  /// `deno test`
+  Test,
+  /// `deno bench`
+  Bench,
+  /// `deno serve`
+  Serve,
+  /// `deno jupyter`
+  Jupyter,
+}
+
 /// The log level to use when printing diagnostic log messages, warnings,
 /// or errors in the worker.
 ///
@@ -63,6 +89,10 @@ pub struct BootstrapOptions {
   pub disable_deprecated_api_warning: bool,
   pub verbose_deprecated_api_warning: bool,
   pub future: bool,
+  pub mode: WorkerExecutionMode,
+  // Used by `deno serve`
+  pub serve_port: Option<NonZeroU16>,
+  pub serve_host: Option<String>,
 }
 
 impl Default for BootstrapOptions {
@@ -94,6 +124,9 @@ impl Default for BootstrapOptions {
       disable_deprecated_api_warning: false,
       verbose_deprecated_api_warning: false,
       future: false,
+      mode: WorkerExecutionMode::None,
+      serve_port: Default::default(),
+      serve_host: Default::default(),
     }
   }
 }
@@ -129,6 +162,12 @@ struct BootstrapV8<'a>(
   bool,
   // future
   bool,
+  // mode
+  i32,
+  // serve port
+  u16,
+  // serve host
+  Option<&'a str>,
 );
 
 impl BootstrapOptions {
@@ -151,6 +190,9 @@ impl BootstrapOptions {
       self.disable_deprecated_api_warning,
       self.verbose_deprecated_api_warning,
       self.future,
+      self.mode as u8 as _,
+      self.serve_port.map(|x| x.into()).unwrap_or_default(),
+      self.serve_host.as_deref(),
     );
 
     bootstrap.serialize(ser).unwrap()
diff --git a/tests/specs/serve/bad/__test__.jsonc b/tests/specs/serve/bad/__test__.jsonc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9a37d60ffd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/serve/bad/__test__.jsonc
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "args": "serve --port 12345 main.ts",
+  "output": "main.out",
+  "tempDir": true
+}
diff --git a/tests/specs/serve/bad/main.out b/tests/specs/serve/bad/main.out
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1bb42f909d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/serve/bad/main.out
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+error: deno serve requires export default { fetch } in the main module, did you mean to run "deno run"?
diff --git a/tests/specs/serve/bad/main.ts b/tests/specs/serve/bad/main.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3399721d4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/serve/bad/main.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+export default {
+  bad() {
+  },
+};
diff --git a/tests/specs/serve/basic/__test__.jsonc b/tests/specs/serve/basic/__test__.jsonc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9a37d60ffd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/serve/basic/__test__.jsonc
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "args": "serve --port 12345 main.ts",
+  "output": "main.out",
+  "tempDir": true
+}
diff --git a/tests/specs/serve/basic/main.out b/tests/specs/serve/basic/main.out
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e79d76af53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/serve/basic/main.out
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+deno serve: Listening on http://localhost:12345/
diff --git a/tests/specs/serve/basic/main.ts b/tests/specs/serve/basic/main.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9e299ab219
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/serve/basic/main.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+(async () => {
+  for (let i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
+    try {
+      const resp = await fetch("http://localhost:12345/");
+      Deno.exit(0);
+    } catch {
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 10));
+    }
+  }
+
+  Deno.exit(2);
+})();
+
+export default {
+  fetch(req) {
+    return new Response("Hello world!");
+  },
+};