Jun 2, 2026 · Frontend Stacks · 1min read

Waku Local Development Guide

Build React Server Components applications with Waku, a lightweight RSC framework, developed locally on default localhost:3000.

Waku (formerly known as Wakuworks) is a minimal full-stack framework for React Server Components (RSC), powered by Vite. It features a simple API, making it suitable for projects that want to experience RSC without adopting the full Next.js stack.

Quick Start

npm create waku@latest
cd my-waku-app
npm install
npm run dev

Default localhost Access

Purpose	Address
Development Server	http://localhost:3000

You can adjust server.port in waku.config.ts or Vite configuration.

Common Commands

Command	Description
`npm run dev`	Development mode (RSC + HMR)
`npm run build`	Production build
`npm run start`	Run production server

Core Concepts

Server Components: Rendered on the server by default, reducing client-side JS
File Routing: The pages/ directory defines routes
Based on Vite, with build and development speeds consistent with modern toolchains

Comparison with Next.js

Waku is lighter and focuses on RSC and the Vite ecosystem, while Next.js offers more comprehensive features (middleware, Image, deployment integration, etc.). It is suitable for learning RSC or for small to medium-sized React full-stack projects.

Summary

Waku’s local development defaults to http://localhost:3000, making it a lightweight choice for experiencing React Server Components.