What is Vite?

Vite is a modern tool that helps web developers write and test code quickly. It serves your source files directly in the browser while you work and then bundles everything into an optimized package for the live site.

Let's break it down

  • modern tool: a recent program designed to make a job easier, in this case building web apps.
  • serves your source files directly in the browser: instead of pre-packing everything, Vite sends the original files to the browser, which can read them as they are.
  • while you work: during the development phase, when you’re writing and editing code.
  • bundles everything into an optimized package: combines and compresses all files into a small, fast set for the final website.
  • live site: the version of the site that users see on the internet.

Why does it matter?

Because Vite makes the feedback loop almost instant-when you change a line of code, the browser updates right away. This saves developers hours of waiting, leads to fewer mistakes, and results in faster, lighter websites for visitors.

Where is it used?

  • Building single-page applications with frameworks like Vue, React, or Svelte.
  • Prototyping UI components for design systems or style guides.
  • Creating static documentation sites using VitePress or similar tools.
  • Developing browser extensions where rapid reloads speed up testing.

Good things about it

  • Near-zero startup time thanks to native ES-module serving.
  • Hot Module Replacement updates only the changed part, avoiding full page reloads.
  • Simple, sensible defaults work out-of-the-box for many projects.
  • Uses Rollup for production builds, delivering highly optimized bundles.
  • Growing plugin ecosystem and active community support.

Not-so-good things

  • Depends on modern browser features, so older browsers still need a full build step.
  • Complex custom configurations can be harder than with older tools like Webpack.
  • Some plugins may lag behind or be incompatible as the ecosystem matures.
  • In very large monorepos, Vite’s dev server can consume more memory than some alternatives.