Run Vite + React in your browser
Tab Desktop runs the real Vite dev server inside the tab: the React template scaffolded by `npm create vite`, dependencies installed by the tab's own npm, and hot module replacement working against a virtual localhost. Edit a component in Tab Code and the preview updates. Everything runs inside your browser tab on WebAssembly. There is no server executing your code, no container to wait for, and nothing to install.
How it works
Node.js-compatible runtime with npm and pnpm, Vite (Rolldown-powered) as the dev server, and a virtual HTTP layer that serves localhost ports inside the tab and, optionally, on a public URL.
npm create vite@latest app -- --template react
cd app
npm install
npm run devWhat you can do
- The real Vite dev server with HMR, on a virtual localhost port
- React, TypeScript, JSX — the standard templates as shipped
- npm / pnpm / yarn installs into the tab's own node_modules
- A production build with `vite build`, downloadable as a zip
- A public URL for the dev server to show someone, in one click
What it does not do
- Native npm add-ons (node-gyp) cannot build in the tab; packages with a WebAssembly or pure-JS build work
- The first install downloads the whole dependency tree, so a fresh project takes a minute to start
- Very large monorepos are slower than on a native machine
Start with a preset
One click gives it an isolated desktop: scaffolded, committed to git, open in Tab Code beside Harbor with the dev server running.
Questions
Does hot module replacement work?
Yes. The Vite dev server runs unmodified inside the tab, its WebSocket included, so an edit shows up in the preview without a reload.
Can I use Next.js or Nuxt instead?
Both run in the tab as well. Vite is the quickest to start; the Node.js page covers the others.
Where does the code live?
In your browser's storage on this device. Push it to a git remote or download it when you want it elsewhere.