Create a React app using Vite

• April 25, 2025
• 0 Views
• By Patrick Chidera

Vite (French for "fast") is a modern frontend build tool that’s rapidly replacing older bundlers like Webpack. With its lightning-fast dev server and instant HMR (hot module replacement), it’s a dream to work with, especially for React projects.

Why Use Vite Instead of Create React App?

• ⚡ Faster builds and reloads
• 📦 Native ES Modules support
• 🔌 Powerful plugin ecosystem
• 🧼 Simpler config compared to Webpack

1. Prerequisites

Ensure you have the latest version of Node.js installed.

node -v

2. Create the App

npm create vite@latest my-react-app -- --template react

3. Install Dependencies

cd my-react-app
npm install

4. Run the Dev Server

npm run dev

Output:

VITE v5.0  ready in 500ms
➜  Local:   http://localhost:5173/

5. Modify Your App

function App() {
  return (
    <main>
      <h1>🚀 Welcome to Vite + React!</h1>
      <p>This app is powered by Vite.</p>
    </main>
  );
}

export default App;

6. Add Tailwind CSS (Optional but Recommended)

npm install -D tailwindcss postcss autoprefixer
npx tailwindcss init -p

Then follow the official guide to configure tailwind.config.js and your CSS entry file.

7. Build and Deploy

npm run build

Deploy your output folder (dist/) to hosts like Vercel, Netlify, or any static hosting service.

Further Reading

• Vite Guide
• React Documentation
• Tailwind CSS Docs

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💬 Have questions, feedback, or want to show off your Vite-powered app? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. Let’s connect and create something awesome!