Introduction: The Evolution of Frontend Tooling
When React first emerged, Webpack was the go-to tool for bundling and optimizing frontend applications. Over the years, tools like Create React App (CRA) simplified Webpack configurations, making it accessible to beginners. However, CRA has since been deprecated, and Vite has risen as a faster, more efficient alternative.
Yet, many developers still prefer manually configuring Webpack instead of using Vite or other modern solutions. Why is that? Is Webpack still relevant in 2025, or should developers move on?
In this article, we’ll explore:
Why some developers still use Webpack manually.
- How Vite improves the development experience.
- A comparison table of Webpack vs. Vite vs. CRA.
- Code examples of modern Webpack setups vs. Vite.
- Whether React 19’s new features affect this decision.
1. The Case for Webpack: Why Developers Still Use It
Webpack is a powerful, configurable bundler that offers fine-grained control over your project’s build process. Here’s why some developers still manually configure it:
✅ Full Control Over Configuration
With Webpack, developers can:
- Customize loaders and plugins for specific project needs.
- Fine-tune performance optimizations (tree shaking, lazy loading, code splitting).
- Extend it for complex setups like Microfrontends or Monorepos.
✅ Enterprise & Legacy Support
Many large-scale projects built in the past still rely on Webpack. Transitioning an enterprise codebase to Vite can be challenging if the entire system is deeply integrated with Webpack’s plugins and features.
✅ SSR (Server-Side Rendering) Flexibility
While Vite supports SSR, Webpack’s ecosystem still provides deeper integration with frameworks like Next.js for server-side rendering and dynamic imports.
However, Webpack isn’t without its drawbacks.
2. The Problems with Webpack
Despite its power, Webpack has significant downsides:
❌ Complex Setup & Configuration
- Steep learning curve—beginners often struggle with configuring loaders, plugins, and dev servers.
- Multiple configuration files (
webpack.config.js, babel.config.js, .eslintrc.js) make it overwhelming.
❌ Slow Development Speed
- Webpack rebuilds the entire project on every save, leading to slow Hot Module Replacement (HMR).
- Vite, in contrast, uses ES Modules (ESM) to instantly update only the modified files.
❌ Deprecated Create React App (CRA) Alternative?
- Many developers used CRA to abstract Webpack, but since CRA is deprecated, they now have to configure Webpack manually—or switch to Vite.
3. The Rise of Vite: A Modern Alternative
Vite has gained massive popularity due to its lightweight architecture and lightning-fast development experience.
✅ Instant Dev Server with ESM
- Unlike Webpack, Vite doesn’t bundle files during development.
- Instead, it leverages native ES Modules (ESM), meaning changes appear instantly in the browser.
✅ Zero Config Setup
- Webpack requires multiple configurations for Babel, TypeScript, and CSS.
- Vite auto-detects these setups, requiring minimal configuration.
✅ Faster Builds with Rollup
- Webpack uses its own bundler, while Vite uses Rollup for optimized production builds.
- Vite’s output is smaller and loads faster in the browser.
4. Comparison: Webpack vs. Vite vs. CRA
| Feature | Webpack | Vite | Create React App (Deprecated) |
|-----------------------|---------|------|--------------------------------|
| Development Speed | ???? Slow rebuilds | ✅ Instant HMR | ⚠️ Slow (due to Webpack) |
| Configuration | ⚠️ Complex setup | ✅ Minimal setup | ✅ Zero-config (but deprecated) |
| Production Build | ✅ Optimized (manual tuning required) | ✅ Optimized (Rollup-based) | ???? Outdated Webpack-based |
| ESM Support | ???? No native ESM | ✅ Yes (native ESM) | ???? No native ESM |
| SSR Support | ✅ Strong (Next.js, custom setups) | ✅ Strong (built-in SSR) | ???? Limited |
| Adoption Rate (2025) | ⚠️ Still used in enterprise projects | ✅ Fast-growing standard | ❌ Deprecated by React team |
5. Code Example: Modern Webpack vs. Vite Setup
????️ Webpack: Manual Setup
1. Install Dependencies
bash
npm init -y
npm install react react-dom webpack webpack-cli webpack-dev-server babel-loader @babel/core @babel/preset-env @babel/preset-react html-webpack-plugin --save-dev
2. Webpack Configuration (webpack.config.js)
js
const path = require('path');
const HtmlWebpackPlugin = require('html-webpack-plugin');
module.exports = {
mode: 'development',
entry: './src/index.js',
output: {
path: path.resolve(__dirname, 'dist'),
filename: 'bundle.js',
clean: true,
},
module: {
rules: [
{
test: /\.js$/,
exclude: /node_modules/,
use: {
loader: 'babel-loader',
options: {
presets: ['@babel/preset-env', '@babel/preset-react'],
},
},
},
{
test: /\.css$/,
use: ['style-loader', 'css-loader'],
},
],
},
plugins: [
new HtmlWebpackPlugin({
template: './public/index.html',
}),
],
devServer: {
static: path.resolve(__dirname, 'dist'),
port: 3000,
hot: true,
},
};
????️ Vite: Simple Setup
1. Install Vite
bash
npm create vite@latest my-app -- --template react
cd my-app
npm install
npm run dev
2. No Webpack Configuration Needed!
Vite automatically handles everything Webpack needs manual setup for.
6. React 19 & The use() Hook: How Does It Affect This?
React 19 introduces use(), a game-changer for fetching data without useEffect or useState.
???? Old Approach (React 18 - Webpack)
js
function UserProfile() {
const [user, setUser] = useState(null);
useEffect(() => {
fetch('/api/user').then(res => res.json()).then(setUser);
}, []);
return user ? <p>{user.name}</p> : <p>Loading...</p>;
}
???? New Approach (React 19 - Vite)
js
function UserProfile() {
const user = use(fetch('/api/user').then(res => res.json()));
return <p>{user.name}</p>;
}
Since Vite natively supports modern ES Modules, it aligns perfectly with React 19’s updates.
7. Conclusion: Should You Still Use Webpack?
- If you’re working on a new React project, Vite is the clear winner.
- If you're maintaining an enterprise app, Webpack might still be necessary.
- If you like full control, Webpack offers more flexibility—but at the cost of complexity.
For most modern React projects, Vite is the way forward.
What’s Next?
If you found this breakdown helpful, stay tuned for a deep dive into React 19’s use() hook and new routing patterns!