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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/meteor/meteor/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

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What is Meteor?

Meteor is an ultra-simple environment for building modern web applications. It’s a full-stack JavaScript platform that enables rapid prototyping and development using the latest technology.
Meteor allows you to use the same code whether you’re developing for web, iOS, Android, or desktop for a seamless update experience for your users.

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Core Philosophy

Meteor is built on several key principles:

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Full-Stack JavaScript

Write your entire application in JavaScript, from client to server to database. This unified language approach eliminates context switching and enables code sharing across environments.

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Data on the Wire

Instead of sending HTML over the network, Meteor sends data and lets the client render it. The server sends raw data through the DDP (Distributed Data Protocol) protocol, and the client decides how to display it.

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Database Everywhere

Access your database from both client and server using the same API. Minimongo, Meteor’s client-side database, mirrors the MongoDB API and automatically syncs with the server.

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Latency Compensation

Meteor simulates database operations on the client (optimistic UI) before the server responds. When the server result arrives, the client seamlessly reconciles any differences.

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Reactivity

Meteor’s reactivity system (powered by Tracker) automatically updates your UI when data changes. No manual event handlers or callback wiring required.

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Architecture Components

Meteor’s architecture consists of several interconnected systems:

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The Meteor Tool

The meteor command-line tool (meteor-tool) is the entry point for all Meteor development:
  • CLI commands: Located in tools/cli/commands.js
  • Build system: Powered by Isobuild in tools/isobuild/
  • Development server: Hot reloading and live updates
  • Package management: Integration with Atmosphere and npm
# Create a new app
meteor create my-app

# Run development server
meteor run

# Add packages
meteor add <package-name>

# Build for production
meteor build ../output

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Package System

Meteor includes over 140+ core packages organized by domain:

Database

mongo, minimongo, ddp-server, ddp-client

Build Tools

babel-compiler, ecmascript, typescript, rspack

Authentication

accounts-base, accounts-password, accounts-oauth

Reactivity

tracker, reactive-var, reactive-dict

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Runtime Environment

Meteor provides a unified runtime environment across platforms:
  • Server: Node.js environment with full access to npm packages
  • Client: Modern browsers with ES2015+ support via Babel
  • Mobile: Cordova integration for iOS and Android
  • Desktop: Electron support for cross-platform desktop apps

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Development Workflow

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1. Project Structure

A typical Meteor app follows this structure: 
my-app/
├── client/          # Client-only code
├── server/          # Server-only code
├── imports/         # Lazy-loaded modules
├── public/          # Static assets
├── tests/           # Test files
└── package.json     # npm dependencies

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2. Build Process

The Meteor build process (handled by Isobuild) follows these steps:
  1. Project Context: Resolves package versions and dependencies
  2. Compilation: Compiles packages and app code for each target
  3. Linking: Wraps modules and sets up imports/exports
  4. Bundling: Combines everything into deployable bundles
  5. Output: Generates star.json and platform-specific programs
The build system automatically detects file changes and triggers hot module replacement in development mode.

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3. Hot Module Replacement

Meteor supports fast refresh for React and automatic reloading:
  • react-fast-refresh: Preserves component state during updates
  • autoupdate: Pushes new code to connected clients
  • reload: Manages client-side reloading strategy

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Modern Features

Meteor 3.x introduces several modern improvements:
  • Async/Await: Full Promise support throughout the stack
  • ESM Modules: Native ES module support
  • TypeScript: First-class TypeScript integration
  • Modern Bundlers: Rspack for faster builds
  • React 18: Support for latest React features

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Next Steps

Project Structure

Learn how Meteor organizes files and directories

Package System

Understand Meteor’s modular package architecture

Isobuild

Deep dive into Meteor’s build system

Reactivity

Master Tracker and reactive programming