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How Vue 3 and Devtools Enhance Your Web Development - 7 Steps to Build and Debug

May 29, 2025
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vue3
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Building a modern web application requires a framework that’s both powerful and developer-friendly. Vue 3, combined with Vue Devtools, offers an exceptional environment for creating dynamic, responsive, and scalable projects. In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through setting up a Vue 3 application using the Vue CLI, customizing its components, and debugging with Vue Devtools. Whether you’re a freelancer building a portfolio like Stack Seekers or a developer enhancing your workflow, this SEO-optimized guide provides 7 actionable steps to create a brain-friendly, efficient Vue 3 application.

Why Choose Vue 3 and Vue Devtools?

Vue 3 is a lightweight, performant JavaScript framework ideal for building modern web applications. Its Composition API, reactive state management, and Vue Router make it perfect for creating portfolio websites or client projects. Vue Devtools enhances this experience by offering real-time insights into components, routes, and performance, helping developers debug efficiently and optimize user experience.

Benefits of Vue 3 and Vue Devtools:

  • Rapid Project Setup: Scaffold a Vue 3 project in minutes with Vue CLI.
  • Component-Based Development: Build reusable, modular components for scalability.
  • Vue Router Integration: Create multi-page applications with seamless navigation.
  • Real-Time Debugging: Use Vue Devtools to inspect components, routes, and performance.
  • Responsive Design: Ensure mobile-friendly interfaces for better accessibility.
  • SEO Optimization: Leverage static rendering for faster load times and better search rankings.
  • Developer-Friendly: Hot module replacement and intuitive tools streamline development.

7 Steps to Build and Debug Your Vue 3 Application

Follow these steps to create a Vue 3 application, customize its content, and debug it effectively using Vue Devtools.

Prerequisites

  • Node.js: Ensure Node.js is installed on your system.
  • Vue CLI: Install globally with npm install -g @vue/cli.
  • Git: Install Git for version control.
  • VS Code: Use Visual Studio Code for editing project files.
  • Vue Devtools: Install the Vue Devtools browser extension for Chrome or Firefox.

Step 1: Create a New Vue 3 Project

  1. Open your terminal and run:
    npm create vue@latest
  2. Answer the setup prompts:
    • Project Name: Enter vue-starter-kit (or your preferred name).
    • TypeScript: Select No (or Yes for TypeScript).
    • JSX Support: Select No for standard Vue templates.
    • Vue Router: Select Yes to enable routing.
    • Pinia for State Management: Select No (or Yes for state management).
    • Vitest for Unit Testing: Select No.
    • End-to-End Testing: Select No.
    • ESLint: Select No for simplicity.

Step 2: Install Dependencies

  1. Navigate to the project directory:
    cd vue-starter-kit
  2. Install dependencies:
    npm install
  3. Wait for the node_modules folder and package-lock.json to be generated.

Step 3: Configure Gitignore

  1. Open or create the .gitignore file in the project root.
  2. Add the following to exclude unnecessary files from Git:
    node_modules/
package-lock.json

Step 4: Run the Development Server

  1. Start the development server:
    npm run dev
  2. Open http://localhost:5173 in your browser to see the scaffolded Vue application with the message “You did it! Congratulations!”

Step 5: Customize the Application

  1. Open the project in VS Code:
    code .
  2. Navigate to src/views/HomeView.vue and update the <h1> tag:
    • Change “You did it!” to “Welcome to Stack Seekers.”
    • Save the file to see changes reflected instantly via Vite’s hot module replacement.
  3. Explore src/views/AboutView.vue, which displays “This is an about page.”
  4. Review src/router/index.js to understand the defined routes (/ for Home, /about for About).

Step 6: Explore Component Structure

  1. In src/views/HomeView.vue, note the <Welcome> component, which includes <WelcomeItem> components.
  2. Open src/components/WelcomeItem.vue:
    • Uses three slots: icon (e.g., document, tooling), heading (e.g., “Documentation”), and default (body text).
    • Customize slots or CSS to align with your project’s branding.
  3. Comment out the <Welcome> component in HomeView.vue to observe its impact, then uncomment to restore functionality.

Step 7: Debug with Vue Devtools

  1. Open your browser’s developer tools and navigate to the Vue tab (requires Vue Devtools extension).
  2. Use the following features:
    • Components Tab: View the hierarchy (e.g., App, HomeView, Welcome, WelcomeItem).
    • Routes Tab: Monitor active routes (e.g., / or /about) and their metadata.
    • Timeline Tab: Analyze events and asset loading for performance optimization.
    • Virtual DOM: Inspect sub-components and rendering structure.
  3. For production, disable Vue Devtools in vite.config.js by commenting out the Devtools plugin to prevent exposure.

conclusion

That’s it! You now have a Vue 3 application scaffolded with Vue CLI, ready for customization and debugging. Stay tuned for more Vue 3 tips and tricks to elevate your web development skills!