Streamline Your Web Development Workflow: A Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Vite.js with VS Code

If you’re looking to improve your web development workflow, one of the best tools you can add to your arsenal is Vite.js. This build tool is designed to make the process of building modern web applications faster and more efficient, and it’s a great fit for developers who are using VS Code as their primary code editor.

Step 1: Install Node.js and npm

Before you can start using Vite.js, you’ll need to make sure that you have Node.js and npm installed on your computer. You can download and install these tools from the official Node.js website, and once they’re installed, you’ll have access to the npm package manager, which you’ll use to install Vite.js.

Step 2: Create a new project

Once Node.js and npm are installed, you can create a new project for your web application. Open VS Code, and use the terminal to navigate to the directory where you want to create your project. Once you’re in the right directory, use the following command to create a new Vite.js project:


npx create-vite@latest my-vite-project


Replace “my-vite-project” with the name you want to use for your project. This command will create a new directory with all the files you need to get started with Vite.js.

Step 3: Install Vite.js

With your project created, navigate into the newly created directory using the terminal, and use the following command to install Vite.js as a dependency of your project:


npm install vite


This will download and install Vite.js, as well as any other dependencies it requires, into your project directory.

Step 4: Update your package.json file

Open the package.json file in your project directory, and add a new script to the “scripts” section, like this:


"scripts": {
"dev": "vite"
}


This will allow you to start the development server for your Vite.js project using the command “npm run dev”.

Step 5: Start the development server

Once you’ve updated your package.json file, you can start the development server for your Vite.js project by running the following command in the terminal:


npm run dev


After running this command, you should see a message indicating that the development server is running, along with a URL where you can access your project in a web browser.

Step 6: Start developing your project

With the development server up and running, you’re ready to start building your web application using Vite.js. You can write your code in VS Code, and any changes you make will automatically be reflected in the development server, allowing you to see your changes in real time as you work.

By following these steps, you can streamline your web development workflow and take advantage of the many benefits that Vite.js has to offer. Happy coding!