Lesson 5 — Create React App vs Vite

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Introduction

After setting up your React development environment, the next step is to create a React application.

There are two popular tools for this:

  • Create React App (CRA)
  • Vite

In this lesson, you will learn:

  • What Create React App is
  • What Vite is
  • Key differences between CRA and Vite
  • Which tool you should choose as a beginner

What Is Create React App?

Create React App (CRA) is an official tool maintained by the React team.

It helps developers:

  • Set up a React project quickly
  • Avoid complex configuration
  • Focus only on writing React code

Features of Create React App

  • Zero configuration
  • Built-in development server
  • Webpack-based bundling
  • Good for beginners

How to Create a React App Using CRA

Open terminal and run:

npx create-react-app my-app
cd my-app
npm start

Your React app will run at:

http://localhost:3000

What Is Vite?

Vite is a modern frontend build tool created by Evan You (creator of Vue).

Vite is known for:

  • Extremely fast startup
  • Lightweight configuration
  • Modern development experience

How to Create a React App Using Vite

Run the following commands:

npm create vite@latest my-app
cd my-app
npm install
npm run dev

Your app will run at:

http://localhost:5173

Create React App vs Vite (Comparison Table)

FeatureCreate React AppVite
Setup SpeedSlowVery Fast
Build ToolWebpackESBuild
ConfigurationZeroMinimal
PerformanceModerateExcellent
Learning CurveEasyEasy
Modern FeaturesLimitedAdvanced

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose Create React App If:

  • You are a complete beginner
  • You want stability
  • You prefer official tools

Choose Vite If:

  • You want faster development
  • You want modern tooling
  • You plan to build production apps

👉 Recommendation:
For learning React in 2025, Vite is the better choice.

Summary

  • CRA is beginner-friendly but slower
  • Vite is fast and modern
  • Both can be used to learn React
  • Vite is recommended for new projects

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Create React App still used?

Yes, but many developers are moving to Vite.

Is Vite good for beginners?

Yes. Vite is simple and very fast.

Can I switch from CRA to Vite later?

Yes. React concepts remain the same.

What’s Next?

👉 In the next lesson, we will learn:

Lesson 6 — React Folder Structure Explained
Understanding important files and folders in a React project.

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