Laravel 8 Installation - npm run dev Error
Stefan Izdrail
Founder & Senior Architect · 2026-06-29
Laravel 8 Installation - npm run dev Error: The Issue at Hand
Laravel is a robust PHP framework used for building modern web applications with speed, ease, and efficiency. However, sometimes during development, we might encounter errors like the one mentioned in the blockquote above. This error occurs when running "npm run dev" command in Laravel 8 installation due to misspelling of mix.js(source, destination).react() by using mix.react() instead. In this comprehensive blog post, we'll examine the issue and provide solutions to help you overcome this obstacle.
Firstly, let us grasp the fundamentals behind mix.js(source, destination).react(), which is a powerful method that integrates React with Laravel Mix. It allows you to bundle your Vue.js or React components during the build process for faster and more streamlined performance. The correct syntax would be:
mix.js('resources/js/app.js', 'public/js')
.sass('resources/sass/app.scss', 'public/css');
To make use of this method, you'll need to have an application that uses React or Vue.js framework and run the following steps:
1. Install Laravel Mix using "npm install laravel-mix --dev" from the root directory of your project, which will create a 'node_modules' folder and add required dependencies in your 'package.json' file.
2. Modify the 'webpack.mix.js' file by adding the mix.js(source, destination).react() method with proper react files:
mix.react('resources/js/App.js', 'public/js/app')
3. Next, update your 'webpack.mix.js' file to include React and Babel dependencies for Laravel Mix:
/*
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Mix JavaScript Components
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| Configure your JS application, then run:
|
| npm run dev
|
| The view this asset outputs will be registered as "app" in the view.js
| file.
|
*/
require('laravel-mix');
mix.react('resources/js/App.js', 'public/js/app')
.sass('resources/sass/app.scss', 'public/css')
.webpackConfig(webpack => {
webpack.config.merge({
resolve: {
modules: ['node_modules']
},
module: {
rules: [
{
test: /\.(js|mjs|cjs|es6)$/,
exclude: /(node_modules)/,
use: {
loader: 'babel-loader',
options: {
presets: ['@babel/preset-react']
}
}
},
{
test: /\.css$/,
use: [
'style-loader',
'css-loader'
]
},
{
test: /\.scss$/,
use: ['extract-loader', 'css-loader', 'sass-loader']
}
]
}
});
})
.sourceMaps()
.version();
4. Ensure that your Laravel project is using React or Vue.js framework for your application, as the mix.js(source, destination).react() method is designed specifically for such applications. If not, you might need to reconsider using a different approach.
5. Finally, run 'npm run dev' command in the terminal from within your Laravel project folder to compile and refresh the React/Vue.js components during development.
Conclusion:
The issue with the "npm run dev" error often occurs due to misspelling of mix.js(source, destination).react() in the Laravel 8 installation process. By understanding the purpose of mix.js(source, destination).react(), and following the steps above for Laravel Mix setup, you can successfully integrate React or Vue.js components in your project. In case you encounter any further issues with the Laravel 8 installation, refer to our resources at https://laravelcompany.com/blog for valuable insights and guidance.