Set up the frontend

Easy8 builds new screens with Vue.js and GraphQL. For dynamic Rails-rendered screens that do not need Vue, use the Hotwire guide.

Prerequisites

Frontend development needs the backend running on your workstation. Follow the initial setup; it installs Node.js (24.19, from .nvmrc), enables Yarn (version from the packageManager field in package.json) and runs easy8:install, which also installs the Node modules.

Run the development environment

1. Start the Vite server. It serves the frontend assets and recompiles them when you change a source file:

   bundle exec vite dev
   

   Keep it running and watch its console, because frontend compilation errors appear there.
2. In a separate terminal, start the Rails server:

   bundle exec rails server
   

3. Open http://localhost:3000/.

To build the assets once without watching for changes, as in production, run bundle exec vite build.