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You know what really grinds my gears ⁉️

FE Devs' That use `npm start` instead of `npm run dev`

Don't mix up your scripts!

By Coolemur
2025-05-22

FE Devs’ Classic Mix-Up: npm start vs npm run dev

Let’s settle this once and for all, so you don’t need to squint at package.json every Monday morning:

  • npm start: This launches your production build—polished, minified, and ready for the world (or at least your boss).
  • npm run dev: This is your playground. Hot reload, source maps, all the bugs you can eat. Perfect for development.

Yet, every new project: “Wait, is it npm start or npm run dev? …Oh, white screen again.”

Quick tip for future you: Just type npm run dev while coding. Save npm start for showing off or deploying. It’s muscle memory for a reason. Don’t be that dev who launches production mode to debug CSS. (We see you.)

Remember: npm run dev is for fun, npm start is for done.

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