Create React App (CRA) and Vite are two popular tools for creating React applications. Both tools have their own advantages and disadvantages.
TL;DR: Vite is a better choice.
Create React App
Pros:
- Easy to set up and use
- Provides a pre-configured development environment
- Includes a number of useful features, such as hot reloading and code splitting
- Has a large and active community
Cons:
- Can be slow to build large applications
- Can be difficult to customise
- Uses Webpack, which can be complex to learn
Vite
Pros:
- Very fast build times
- Easy to customise
- Uses native ES modules, which can improve performance
- Has a growing community
Cons:
- Can be more difficult to set up and use than CRA
- Does not include as many pre-configured features as CRA
- Community is still smaller than CRA
Development speed and compilation speed
Create React App
Development speed in CRA is good, but it can be slow for large applications. This is because CRA uses Webpack to bundle your application. Webpack can be a powerful tool, but it can also be slow.
Compilation speed in CRA is also good, but it can be slow for large applications. This is because CRA uses Webpack to compile your application code. Webpack can be a powerful tool, but it can also be slow.
Vite
Development speed in Vite is very fast. This is because Vite uses native ES modules, which are much faster than CommonJS modules. Vite also uses a number of other techniques to improve development speed, such as incremental compilation and file watching.
Compilation speed in Vite is also very fast. Vite uses native ES modules and incremental compilation, which makes it much faster than Webpack.
Overall, Vite is much faster than CRA in terms of both development speed and compilation speed.
Which tool should you choose?
If you are new to React or want to get started quickly, CRA is a good choice. It is easy to set up and use, and it provides a number of useful features. However, if you need to build a large application or need to customise your development environment, Vite is a better choice.
Here is a table that summarises the key differences between CRA and Vite:
Conclusion
Both Create React App and Vite are excellent tools for creating React applications. The best tool for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. If you are new to React or want to get started quickly, CRA is a good choice. If you need to build a large application or need to customize your development environment, Vite is a better choice.
If you are concerned about development speed and compilation speed, Vite is the better choice. It is much faster than CRA in both areas.
