You can debug NativeScript-Vue applications using the standalone version of Vue DevTools.

To simplify the integration, you can use the nativescript-vue-devtools plugin which takes care of connecting your app to Vue DevTools.

Step 1: Install dependencies

Run the following command:

$ cd <project-folder>
$ npm install --save @vue/devtools nativescript-toasty nativescript-socketio nativescript-vue-devtools

Step 2: Install the nativescript-vue-devtools plugin in your app

To connect your application to the Vue DevTools, you need to modify main.js (or main.ts).

In your code, import nativescript-vue-devtools and tell NativeScript-Vue about it using Vue.use().

import VueDevtools from 'nativescript-vue-devtools'
import Vue from 'nativescript-vue'

Vue.use(VueDevtools)

Make sure you import devtools before Vue, otherwise it might not work as expected.

If you are using a real device instead of an emulator, set the host configuration option to point to the IP of your development machine. Otherwise, your device will not be able to connect to your host machine.

Vue.use(VueDevtools, { host: '192.168.1.42' })

Step 3: Run Vue DevTools

Run the following command in a new terminal to launch Vue DevTools:

$ npx vue-devtools

A window should open. Instructions shown in this window are not required in a NativeScript-Vue application, so please ignore them.

Step 4: Rebuild and run your app

Run the following commands:

$ rm -rf platforms
$ tns run android
$ # or
$ tns run ios

If your machine and app are configured properly, you should see a few components in the component tree of Vue DevTools.

Troubleshooting

On Android API level 28 and above, cleartext traffic is disabled by default. In order to connect to Vue DevTools you will have to add android:usesCleartextTraffic="true" to the App_Resources/Android/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml file:

<application
 <!-- ... -->
 android:usesCleartextTraffic="true"
 <!-- ... -->
</application>

After making the change, delete the platforms folder, and rebuild the app. Vue DevTools should now connect automatically.