Converting Create React App to Vite

If you are a React developer, you may have heard about Vite, the next-generation frontend tooling for React. Vite offers faster and more efficient development experience compared to Create React App (CRA). In this article, we will discuss how to convert a React app created with CRA to Vite, and why you might want to do so.

What is Vite?

Vite is a build tool that enables instant server start and incredibly fast hot module replacement (HMR) for your React project. It leverages the native ES module import, dynamic import, browser natively support for ES modules, and rollup for bundling. Vite significantly reduces the build time and improves the overall developer experience, making it a popular choice among React developers.

Why Convert from CRA to Vite?

While Create React App has been a staple for React developers, Vite offers several compelling reasons to switch:

• Lightning-fast cold server start with native ES modules.
• Instant hot module replacement (HMR) for changes in development.
• Highly efficient bundling and optimization for production builds.

How to Convert Create React App to Vite

Converting a React application from CRA to Vite involves several steps:

1. Install Vite: Start by installing Vite using npm or yarn.
2. Configure Vite: Create a vite.config.js file and configure your Vite settings, such as plugins, build options, and development server configurations.
3. Update Dependencies: Update the dependencies in your package.json file to use Vite-compatible versions of tools and libraries.
4. Reorganize File Structure: Vite has a different file structure compared to CRA. You may need to reorganize your files and update import paths accordingly.
5. Optimize Code: Take advantage of Vite’s efficient bundling and optimization features to improve the performance of your React app.

Bug Shop – An Example

Let’s take a look at an example of converting a React app from CRA to Vite. Consider a sample e-commerce web application called Bug Shop, which was originally built with Create React App. By converting Bug Shop to Vite, we can experience the benefits of faster development and improved performance.

Original App Structure (CRA)

  Bug Shop
  ├── public
  ├── src
  │   ├── components
  │   ├── pages
  │   ├── App.js
  │   └── index.js
  ├── package.json
  └── ...
  

Converted App Structure (Vite)

  Bug Shop
  ├── public
  ├── src
  │   ├── components
  │   ├── pages
  │   ├── main.jsx
  │   └── index.html
  ├── vite.config.js
  ├── package.json
  └── ...
  

Conclusion

Converting a React app from Create React App to Vite can offer significant improvements in development speed and performance. With Vite’s native ES module support and efficient bundling, React developers can enjoy a more streamlined development experience. Consider converting your React app to Vite to take advantage of these benefits.