Bolt
performance
WebContainer Slow Startup - App Takes Time to Boot
Your Bolt WebContainer takes a long time to start - 30+ seconds before seeing the dev server running. Development workflow is slow due to startup delays.
This happens consistently, making every new session wait.
Error Messages You Might See
WebContainer initialization timeout
Node modules taking 2+ minutes to install
Dev server not starting after 5 minutes
Spinning loader never completes
Common Causes
- Large node_modules size slowing file system
- Many dependencies causing npm install to take forever
- Post-install scripts (build, setup) in package.json taking time
- WebContainer downloading dependencies on first run
- Heavy TypeScript compilation on startup
How to Fix It
Minimize dependencies: remove unused packages, audit with npm ls
Use npm ci instead of npm install for faster, deterministic installs
Remove unnecessary postinstall scripts or make them optional
Pre-compile TypeScript if possible, or disable strict mode in dev
Clear npm cache in Bolt: might be cached from previous run
Consider using pnpm instead of npm (faster for monorepos)
Real developers can help you.
Matthew Butler
Systems Development Engineer @ Amazon Web Services
Richard McSorley
Full-Stack Software Engineer with 8+ years building high-performance applications for enterprise clients. Shipped production systems at Walmart (4,000+ stores), Cigna (20M+ users), and Arkansas Blue Cross. 5 patents in retail/supply chain tech. Currently focused on AI integrations, automation tools, and TypeScript-first architectures.
Meïr Ankri
Full-stack developer specializing in React / Next.js / Node.js with 6+ years of experience. I've worked across various sectors including automotive (Reezocar/Société Générale), healthcare (Medical Link SaaS), and e-commerce (Glasman). I build web apps end-to-end, from architecture to production, with a focus on scalability, performance, and code quality. I also mentor junior developers and contribute to technical decisions and code reviews.
MFox
Full-stack professional senior engineer (15+years). Extensive experience in software development, qa, and IP networking.
Kingsley Omage
Fullstack software engineer passionate about AI Agents, blockchain, LLMs.
zipking
I am a technologist and product builder dedicated to creating high-impact solutions at the intersection of AI and specialized markets. Currently, I am focused on PropScan (EstateGuard), an AI-driven SaaS platform tailored for the Japanese real estate industry, and exploring the potential of Archify.
As an INFJ-T, I approach development with a "systems-thinking" mindset—balancing technical precision with a deep understanding of user needs. I particularly enjoy the challenge of architecting Vertical AI SaaS and optimizing Small Language Models (SLMs) to solve specific, real-world business problems. Whether I'm in a CTO-level leadership role or hands-on with the code, I thrive on building tools that turn complex data into actionable value.
Victor Denisov
Developer
Stanislav Prigodich
15+ years building iOS and web apps at startups and enterprise companies. I want to use that experience to help builders ship real products - when something breaks, I'm here to fix it.
Jared Hasson
Full time lead founding dev at a cyber security saas startup, with 10 yoe and a bachelor's in CS. Building & debugging software products is what I've spent my time on for forever
Milan Surelia
Milan Surelia is a Mobile App Developer with 5+ years of experience crafting scalable, cross-platform apps at 7Span and Meticha. At 7Span, he engineers feature-rich Flutter apps with smooth performance and modern UI. As the Co-Founder of Meticha, he builds open-source tools and developer-focused products that solve real-world problems.
Expertise:
💡 Developing cross-platform apps using Flutter, Dart, and Jetpack Compose for Android, iOS, and Web.
🖋️ Sharing insights through technical writing, blogging, and open-source contributions.
🤝 Collaborating closely with designers, PMs, and developers to build seamless mobile experiences.
Notable Achievements:
🎯 Revamped the Vepaar app into Vepaar Store & CRM with a 2x performance boost and smoother UX.
🚀 Launched Compose101 — a Jetpack Compose starter kit to speed up Android development.
🌟 Open source contributions on Github & StackOverflow for Flutter & Dart
🎖️ Worked on improving app performance and user experience with smart solutions.
Milan is always happy to connect, work on new ideas, and explore the latest in technology.
You don't need to be technical. Just describe what's wrong and a verified developer will handle the rest.
Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Why is WebContainer slow on first run?
Downloading node_modules, dependencies, and setting up environment. Subsequent runs are cached
Should I commit node_modules?
No, Bolt installs fresh. Keep package-lock.json committed for reproducible builds
How do I speed up dependencies?
Use pnpm (faster), audit and remove unused packages, use npm ci instead of install