Last year my boss suggested I try Vite for a project. I was skeptical at first: Create React App was what I knew, it was comfortable, and it worked.
Then I ran npm run dev.
The speed was immediately noticeable. No waiting, no staring at the terminal hoping something would happen. Vite was just... instant. Compare that to Create React App, where npm run dev felt like it was thinking about whether it even wanted to start.
That was the moment I switched and never went back. Honestly, at this point, I can barely remember what Create React App felt like, and I think that's the point. When a tool is good enough, the old way of doing things just fades from memory completely.
Why Vite specifically:
- Hot module replacement is significantly faster - changes reflect almost instantly in the browser.
- Startup time is dramatically shorter - no more waiting for a full bundle on every start.
- It's what the industry is moving towards - alongside Next.js, Vite has become the modern standard for React projects.
What this meant for my projects:
When I built my React dashboard starter kit recently, I chose Vite without even thinking twice. It made the development experience smooth, the build process fast, and the final output clean.
If you're still using Create React App in 2026, try Vite on your next project. You probably won't go back either.
And if you want a head start with a Vite + TypeScript + Tailwind + shadcn dashboard already set up with Login, Register, Dashboard, Projects, Team Management, and Settings pages, I packaged everything into a starter kit so you don't have to set it up from scratch.
Live Preview: https://react-admin-dashboard-starter.vercel.app/
Gumroad Link: https://salihabala.gumroad.com/l/nlgeie
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