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TypeScript Academy · Lesson

Vite / esbuild / SWC / Rollup basics

Overview of common bundlers (Vite, esbuild, SWC, Rollup) and how they interact with TypeScript projects.

Vite / esbuild / SWC / Rollup basics is a free TypeScript Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 3. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the TypeScript Academy learning path, one of 3 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

Intro

Goal: Explore popular bundlers—Vite, esbuild, SWC, and Rollup. Each offers unique speed and flexibility.

Vite

Vite: Instant dev server using ESM, fast HMR, production builds powered by Rollup.

// package.json
{
  "scripts": {
    "dev": "vite",
    "build": "vite build"
  }
}

esbuild

esbuild: Extremely fast bundler in Go. Great for prototyping and JS/TS projects.

// Command
npx esbuild src/index.ts --bundle --outfile=out.js

SWC

SWC: Rust-based compiler for TS/JS. Often used in Next.js for speed.

// swc config (.swcrc)
{
  "jsc": {
    "parser": { "syntax": "typescript" },
    "target": "es2020"
  }
}

Rollup

Rollup: Flexible bundler, strong tree-shaking. Vite uses Rollup internally for builds.

// rollup.config.js
import typescript from "@rollup/plugin-typescript";

export default {
  input: "src/index.ts",
  output: { file: "bundle.js", format: "cjs" },
  plugins: [typescript()]
};

Choosing bundler

Choosing: Vite for dev DX, esbuild for speed, SWC for Rust-based compilation, Rollup for control. All integrate with TS easily.

Question

Quick check: Which bundler uses native ES modules for fast dev server?

Recap

Recap: Vite is ESM-fast, esbuild is Go-speed, SWC is Rust-fast, Rollup is flexible. Use depending on project needs.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “Vite / esbuild / SWC / Rollup basics” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “Vite / esbuild / SWC / Rollup basics” is free to read here on the web, and the TypeScript Academy course includes 3 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the TypeScript Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “Vite / esbuild / SWC / Rollup basics”?

Overview of common bundlers (Vite, esbuild, SWC, Rollup) and how they interact with TypeScript projects. You practise TypeScript Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start TypeScript Academy?

No prior experience is required. TypeScript Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 3, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “Vite / esbuild / SWC / Rollup basics” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this TypeScript Academy lesson?

Yes. Every TypeScript Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

  1. tsc emit vs noEmit + bundlers
  2. Vite / esbuild / SWC / Rollup basics
  3. Declarations, source maps, types exports
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