Vite: Drop Webpack, Get Your Build Speed Back
I migrated a personal project from Webpack to Vite. The dev experience difference is significant.
How dev mode works: Vite skips bundling entirely. It serves source files as native ES modules and lets the browser resolve imports. Changes are instant — no bundle to rebuild.
Production: Vite uses Rollup. You still get tree-shaking, code splitting, and legacy browser support.
Other wins:
- Integrates with backend frameworks (Django, Rails, Laravel all have official plugins)
- Works with React, Svelte, Vue, or vanilla JS
- Config is simpler than Webpack — sensible defaults, far less boilerplate
Created by Evan You (Vue author) but framework-agnostic.
If you haven't tried it: start a new project with Vite and notice how fast the feedback loop feels.