JavaScript Stack from Scratch vs Vite
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A step-by-step tutorial for wiring together a modern JavaScript web stack by hand.
Open source · MIT
A fast frontend build tool with a quick dev server and optimized production builds.
The short answer
Choose JavaScript Stack from Scratch if you need…
- Developers who already know JavaScript basics and want to understand how a React and Node setup is put together
- People who want to learn what goes into a boilerplate instead of using a pre-made configuration
- Developers joining a team that uses this kind of stack and need to see the pieces
- Learners who prefer following written chapters that build on each other
Choose Vite if you need…
- Frontend developers starting a new modern web project
- Teams who want faster local dev server startup and hot reloading
- Developers who want a plugin system and typed JavaScript APIs
Side-by-side
| JavaScript Stack from Scratch | Vite | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Learning resource | Dev tool |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 20.1k | 83.7k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Clone and build from source | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 2 years ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
JavaScript Stack from Scratch
This is a tutorial that walks you through assembling a JavaScript web stack piece by piece, from Node, Yarn and package.json through Babel, ESLint, Flow, Jest, Express, Webpack, React, Redux, server-side rendering and Socket.IO. It focuses on connecting tools together with the simplest possible example for each, rather than teaching each tool in depth. People use it to understand what a boilerplate contains and why, or to build their own starter project from scratch.
Vite
Vite is a build tool for modern web projects. Its dev server serves your code quickly while you work, using native ES modules and fast hot module replacement so changes appear almost immediately in the browser. For production, its build command bundles your code into optimized static files.
Best for
JavaScript Stack from Scratch
- Developers who already know JavaScript basics and want to understand how a React and Node setup is put together
- People who want to learn what goes into a boilerplate instead of using a pre-made configuration
- Developers joining a team that uses this kind of stack and need to see the pieces
- Learners who prefer following written chapters that build on each other
Vite
- Frontend developers starting a new modern web project
- Teams who want faster local dev server startup and hot reloading
- Developers who want a plugin system and typed JavaScript APIs
Strengths
JavaScript Stack from Scratch
- Explains how tools are wired together rather than hiding the configuration
- Each chapter gives a minimal, focused example
- Code examples are provided for each chapter and the final code is available in releases
Vite
- Dev server starts quickly and updates quickly during editing, per the README
- Production build outputs optimized static assets with little manual configuration
- Extensible through a plugin API and JavaScript API with full typing support
Not ideal for
JavaScript Stack from Scratch
- Complete beginners, since the README says it requires general programming knowledge and JavaScript basics
- People who just want to learn React quickly; the README points to create-react-app for that
- Anyone needing a current, maintained starter, since the README notes some libraries have changed APIs since the tutorial was last edited in May 2017
Vite
- People who only need a finished app and not a development toolchain, since Vite is a tool for building apps
- Non-developers, because setup and use require JavaScript project knowledge
Trade-offs
JavaScript Stack from Scratch
- The README says the tutorial was last edited in May 2017 and some libraries have changed APIs since then
- Covers several tools that may now be outdated, and the README lists the V2 chapters as the current version
- Many chapters are required reading in sequence, so it is not a quick reference
Vite
- The README is brief and defers most detail to the external documentation site
- Its production bundling depends on Rolldown, a separate project, so the README gives limited detail on how that works for users
- Plugin ecosystem and compatibility details are not covered in the README
Getting started
JavaScript Stack from Scratch
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/verekia/js-stack-from-scratchRun the code examples
yarn && yarn startVite
Scaffold a new project (per the create-vite package)
npm create vite@latestFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between JavaScript Stack from Scratch and Vite?
JavaScript Stack from Scratch: A step-by-step tutorial for wiring together a modern JavaScript web stack by hand. Vite: A fast frontend build tool with a quick dev server and optimized production builds. JavaScript Stack from Scratch suits developers who already know javascript basics and want to understand how a react and node setup is put together, while Vite suits frontend developers starting a new modern web project.
Are JavaScript Stack from Scratch and Vite free?
JavaScript Stack from Scratch: Free and open source. Vite: Free and open source.
Is JavaScript Stack from Scratch or Vite more popular?
Vite has more GitHub stars (83.7k) than JavaScript Stack from Scratch (20.1k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to JavaScript Stack from Scratch and Vite?
Other options people compare them with include Next.js, webpack, Parcel, esbuild, Rspack.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.