Running npm run dev Outside Laravel Homestead for Efficient Hot Reload with Vue.js

Published in Laravel, homestead, VueJS on Jul 31, 2023

Introduction:

Laravel Homestead, being a popular development environment, offers various advantages for web developers. However, when it comes to using hot reload with Vue.js during development, running npm run dev inside Homestead can result in sluggish performance. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind the slow hot reload and discuss how running npm run dev from your local machine can significantly enhance your development experience.

Understanding the Slow Hot Reload in Laravel Homestead:

By default, Laravel Homestead provisions a virtual machine with specific resource allocations and configurations. When you initiate the npm run dev command inside Homestead, it triggers a series of processes involving file watching, building assets, and reloading the browser. The virtual machine's limited processing power and file system interactions tend to impact the hot reload speed, causing noticeable delays.

Why Running npm run dev from Your Local Machine is Recommended:

To overcome the slow hot reload issue, it is advisable to run npm run dev from your local machine rather than from within Homestead. Doing so provides several advantages:

Improved Performance: Running npm run dev on your local machine eliminates the need for virtual machine file system interactions, which significantly enhances performance. This change allows your development environment to leverage the full power of your local hardware resources, resulting in faster compilation and hot reload times.
Streamlined Development Flow: When running npm run dev outside Homestead, your changes take effect instantly, making it easier to iterate and test your code. This streamlined development flow accelerates your productivity by reducing the time wasted waiting for asset compilation and browser reloading.

Steps to Set Up Local Development Environment for Hot Reload:

Configure Laravel Homestead: Firstly, set up Homestead as your primary development environment for Laravel projects by following the official Laravel Homestead documentation.
Install Node.js and NPM: Ensure you have Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager) installed on your local machine. You can download the latest versions from the official Node.js website.
Clone Project and Install Dependencies: Clone your Laravel project repository onto your local machine. Navigate to the project directory using a terminal or command prompt and run the command "npm install" to install the project dependencies.
Run npm run dev from Local Machine: With the aforementioned setup complete, execute the "npm run dev" command locally in your project directory. This will initiate the asset compilation and hot reload process, allowing you to conveniently observe real-time changes in your browser.

Conclusion:

By running npm run dev from your local machine instead of Laravel Homestead, you can significantly enhance the hot reload experience while developing with Vue.js. The improved performance and streamlined development flow will enable you to code more efficiently, minimizing downtime. Embrace this approach and enjoy faster hot reloads, creating a more productive and enjoyable development environment.