Vite import.meta esbuild errors

Encountering errors like Expected identifier but found "import" when running npm run dev in a Vite + React project typically stems from compatibility issues related to import.meta handling in newer esbuild versions. This issue commonly appears when esbuild v0.24.1+ interacts with Vite's configuration loader.

Root cause

esbuild v0.24.1 introduced breaking changes affecting Vite's internal handling of import.meta properties (import.meta.dirname, import.meta.filename, and import.meta.url). This results in build failures as Vite's configuration loader encounters invalid syntax:

✘ [ERROR] Expected identifier but found "import"
    (define name):1:0:
      1 │ import.meta.dirname
        ╵ ~~~~~~

Recommended solutions

1. Update Vite to v6.0.5+ (preferred)

The Vite team resolved this issue in v6.0.5+ by pinning esbuild to v0.24.0. Update your dependencies:

npm install vite@6.0.5
# OR equivalent for your package manager

2. Downgrade esbuild to v0.24.0

Force-install compatible esbuild version:

npm install --save-dev esbuild@0.24.0

3. Lock esbuild version via overrides

Prevent incompatible updates using package manager-specific resolutions:

npm (package.json)

{
  "overrides": {
    "esbuild": "0.24.0"
  }
}

yarn (package.json)

{
  "resolutions": {
    "esbuild": "0.24.0"
  }
}

pnpm (package.json)

{
  "pnpm": {
    "overrides": {
      "esbuild": "0.24.0"
    }
  }
}

Additional troubleshooting

If the above solutions don't work, consider reinstalling dependencies:

rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
npm install

Verifying the fix

Confirm successful resolution by running your development server after applying changes:

npm run dev

Best practices

1. Use Vite v6.0.5 or newer to prevent recurrence
2. Avoid wildcard dependencies (esbuild@^0.x → esbuild@0.24.0)
3. Regularly update dependencies using npm outdated and test updates in isolation

Explanation

The underlying conflict occurs because esbuild v0.24.1 changed how it processes environment variables like import.meta. Vite relies on these patterns for file resolution. By locking esbuild to v0.24.0 or using patched Vite versions, we restore compatibility without compromising functionality. The Vite team specifically addressed this regression in v6.0.5 via this commit.

This solution resolves the immediate error while maintaining modern tooling benefits. Future Vite patches will natively support newer esbuild versions without manual interventions.