How to Fix 'plugin:vite:import-analysis' Error in Vue 3

If you recently upgraded your Vue 3 project from Vite 2.x to Vite 3.x and ran into this error:

[plugin:vite:import-analysis] Failed to parse source for import analysis because the content contains invalid JS syntax. If you are using JSX, make sure to name the file with the .jsx or .tsx extension.

Don’t worry, this is a common issue, and we’ll guide you step by step to fix it easily.

What Causes This Error?

This error happens because Vite 3.x has stricter rules for parsing JavaScript files. Your project might have some code or configurations that worked in Vite 2.x but are no longer valid in Vite 3.x.

Here are the main reasons:

1. Dynamic Imports Issue: For example, code like this:

   const messages = await import(
     /* webpackChunkName: "locale-[request]" */ `./locales/${locale}.json`
   )
   

   is not supported in Vite. You need to remove webpackChunkName.

2. Wrong File Extensions: Files using JSX or TSX must have .jsx or .tsx extensions.

3. Missing Vue Plugins: For Vue projects, @vitejs/plugin-vue must be added in your Vite configuration.

4. Misplaced Files: Files like index.html and vite.config.js must be in the project root.

Step-by-Step Solution

1. Fix Dynamic Imports

If you are using dynamic imports, replace code like this:

const messages = await import(/* webpackChunkName: "locale-[request]" */ `./locales/${locale}.json`)

with this:

const messages = await import(`./locales/${locale}.json`)

2. Rename Files with JSX/TSX Syntax

If your file contains JSX or TSX syntax, change the file extension. For example:

• Rename i18n.js to i18n.jsx or i18n.tsx.

3. Install and Configure Vue Plugin

If your project is built with Vue, make sure the @vitejs/plugin-vue is installed and configured. Add this to your vite.config.js file:

import vue from '@vitejs/plugin-vue'

export default {
  plugins: [vue()],
}

Install the plugin using npm:

npm install @vitejs/plugin-vue

4. Check File Placement

Make sure essential files like index.html and vite.config.js are in the root directory of your project. Moving index.html to a subfolder can cause this error.

5. Fix Syntax Errors

Sometimes the issue is as simple as a missing bracket or incorrect syntax. For example:

export class MyClass{
  static myFunc() {
    return ...;
  // Missing closing brace
}

Ensure all brackets are properly closed:

export class MyClass{
  static myFunc() {
    return ...;
  }
}

Example Vite Configuration for Vue 3

Here’s how your vite.config.js file should look:

import { defineConfig } from 'vite'
import vue from '@vitejs/plugin-vue'

export default defineConfig({
  plugins: [vue()],
})

FAQs

1. Why does this error occur only in Vite 3.x?

Vite 3.x has stricter rules for analyzing and parsing code, which helps catch issues that were ignored in Vite 2.x. This ensures better performance and compatibility.

2. What if the error still doesn’t go away?

If the issue persists:

• Double-check file extensions and imports.
• Remove unused or problematic imports.
• Make sure all dependencies are compatible with Vite 3.x.

3. Can I disable the error overlay temporarily?

Yes, you can disable the error overlay by adding this to your vite.config.js:

server: {
  hmr: {
    overlay: false,
  },
}

This will stop the overlay from showing, but you should only do this for debugging.