@storybook/builder-vite

What is @storybook/builder-vite?

The @storybook/builder-vite package is a Storybook builder that integrates Vite as the build tool for Storybook. It allows developers to leverage Vite's fast build times and features within their Storybook environment. This package is particularly useful for projects that are already using Vite and want to maintain consistency in their build tools.

What are @storybook/builder-vite's main functionalities?

Custom Vite Configuration

Allows customization of the Vite configuration used by Storybook. Developers can add aliases, plugins, and modify other settings to tailor the build process.

module.exports = {
  stories: ['../stories/**/*.stories.@(js|jsx|ts|tsx|mdx)'],
  addons: ['@storybook/addon-links', '@storybook/addon-essentials'],
  core: {
    builder: '@storybook/builder-vite'
  },
  async viteFinal(config, { configType }) {
    // customize the Vite config here
    config.resolve.alias = {
      ...config.resolve.alias,
      '@components': '/path/to/components'
    };
    // return the customized config
    return config;
  }
};

Fast Build Times

By using Vite as the build tool, Storybook can take advantage of Vite's fast build times, leading to quicker startup and refresh times during development.

// There is no specific code sample for this feature as it is an inherent benefit of using Vite with Storybook.

Support for Vite Plugins

Enables the use of Vite plugins within the Storybook build process, allowing developers to extend functionality with Vite's rich plugin ecosystem.

module.exports = {
  core: {
    builder: '@storybook/builder-vite'
  },
  async viteFinal(config) {
    config.plugins.push(myVitePlugin());
    return config;
  }
};

Other packages similar to @storybook/builder-vite

@storybook/builder-webpack5

This package is a Storybook builder that uses Webpack 5 as the build tool. It is similar to @storybook/builder-vite in that it integrates a modern build tool into Storybook, but it uses Webpack instead of Vite. Webpack is more established but generally has slower build times compared to Vite.

@storybook/builder-webpack4

Similar to the webpack5 builder, this package integrates Webpack 4 into Storybook. It is for projects that are still using Webpack 4 and have not yet upgraded to Webpack 5. It offers a different set of features and plugin compatibility compared to Vite.

@storybook/addon-storyshots

While not a builder, this addon provides snapshot testing for Storybook stories. It complements builders like @storybook/builder-vite by adding testing capabilities to the development workflow.

README

Storybook builder for Vite

Build your stories with vite for fast startup times and near-instant HMR.

Table of Contents

• Installation
• Usage
  • Getting started with Vite and Storybook (on a new project)
  • Migration from webpack / CRA
  • Customize Vite config
  • TypeScript
  • React Docgen
  • Note about working directory
• Known issues
• Contributing

Installation

Requirements:

• Vite 3.0 or newer (4.X recommended)

When installing Storybook, use the --builder=vite flag if you do not have a vite.config file at your project root (if you do, the vite builder is chosen automatically).

Usage

The builder supports both development mode in Storybook and building a static production version.

Your vite.config file will be used by Storybook. If you need to customize the vite config for Storybook, you have two choices:

1. Set values in your vite.config conditionally, based on an environment variable, for example.
2. Add a viteFinal config to your .storybook/main.js file. See Customize Vite config for details.

Getting started with Vite and Storybook (on a new project)

See https://vitejs.dev/guide/#scaffolding-your-first-vite-project,

npm create vite@latest # follow the prompts
npx storybook@latest init --builder vite && npm run storybook

Migration from webpack / CRA

1. Install vite and @storybook/builder-vite
2. Remove any explicit project dependencies on webpack, react-scripts, and any other webpack plugins or loaders.
3. If you were previously using @storybook/manager-webpack5, you can remove it. Also remove @storybook/builder-webpack5 or @storybook/builder-webpack4 if they are installed.
4. Choose a vite-based Storybook "framework" to set in the framework option of your .storybook/main.js file.
5. Remove storybook webpack cache (rm -rf node_modules/.cache)
6. Update your /public/index.html file for vite (be sure there are no %PUBLIC_URL% inside it, which is a CRA variable)
7. Be sure that any files containing JSX syntax use a .jsx or .tsx file extension, which vite requires. This includes .storybook/preview.jsx if it contains JSX syntax.
8. If you are using @storybook/addon-interactions, for now you'll need to add a workaround for jest-mock relying on the node global variable by creating a .storybook/preview-head.html file containing the following:

<script>
  window.global = window;
</script>

1. Start up your storybook using the same yarn storybook or npm run storybook commands you are used to.

For other details about the differences between vite and webpack projects, be sure to read through the vite documentation.

Customize Vite config

The builder will read your vite.config.js file, though it may change some of the options in order to work correctly. It looks for the Vite config in the CWD. If your config is located elsewhere, specify the path using the viteConfigPath builder option:

// .storybook/main.mjs

const config = {
  framework: {
    name: '@storybook/react-vite', // Your framework name here.
    options: {
      builder: {
        viteConfigPath: '.storybook/customViteConfig.js',
      },
    },
  },
};

export default config;

You can also override the merged Vite config:

// use `mergeConfig` to recursively merge Vite options
import { mergeConfig } from 'vite';

const config = {
  async viteFinal(config, { configType }) {
    // Be sure to return the customized config
    return mergeConfig(config, {
      // Customize the Vite config for Storybook
      resolve: {
        alias: { foo: 'bar' },
      },
    });
  },
};

export default config;

The viteFinal function will give you config which is the combination of your project's vite config and the builder's own Vite config. You can tweak this as you want, for example to set up aliases, add new plugins etc.

The configType variable will be either "DEVELOPMENT" or "PRODUCTION".

The function should return the updated Vite configuration.

TypeScript

Configure your .storybook/main.ts to use TypeScript:

import type { StorybookConfig } from '@storybook/react-vite'; // (or whatever framework you are using)

const config: StorybookConfig = {
  // other storybook options...,
  async viteFinal(config, options) {
    // modify and return config
  },
};

export default config;

See Customize Vite config for details about using viteFinal.

React Docgen

Docgen is used in Storybook to populate the props table in docs view, the controls panel, and for several other addons. Docgen is supported in Svelte, Vue, and React, and there are two docgen options when using react, react-docgen and react-docgen-typescript. You can learn more about the pros/cons of each in this gist. By default, if we find a typescript dependency in your package.json file, we will assume you're using typescript and will choose react-docgen-typescript. You can change this by setting the typescript.reactDocgen option in your .storybook/main.js file:

export default {
  typescript: {
    reactDocgen: 'react-docgen`
  }
}

If you're using TypeScript, we encourage you to experiment and see which option works better for your project.

Note about working directory

The builder will by default enable Vite's server.fs.strict option, for increased security. The default project root is set to the parent directory of the storybook configuration directory. This can be overridden in viteFinal.

Known issues

• HMR: saving a story file does not hot-module-reload, a full reload happens instead. HMR works correctly when saving component files.

Contributing

The Vite builder cannot build itself. Are you willing to contribute? We are especially looking for Vue and Svelte experts, as the current maintainers are react users.

Have a look at the GitHub issues with the vite label for known bugs. If you find any new bugs, feel free to create an issue or send a pull request!

Please read the How to contribute guide.