Tools
Know what's in the toolbox
What each tool is, how it's licensed, and when a dev would actually reach for it.
Languages & runtimes
The foundation layer: languages, runtimes, and the core app frameworks built on them.
TypeScript
Open sourceTyped superset of JavaScript
Adds static types and interfaces to JavaScript, then compiles away to plain JS. The payoff is editor autocomplete, safer refactors, and a whole class of runtime bugs caught before you ship.
Rust
Open sourceMemory-safe systems language
A compiled systems language that guarantees memory safety at compile time without a garbage collector. Fast and predictable, at the cost of a steeper learning curve than most web languages.
React
Open sourceComponent-based UI library
Meta's library for building UIs from components written in JSX. It is a UI layer, not a full framework, so routing, data fetching, and builds come from the tools you pair it with.
Tauri
Open sourceCross-platform desktop framework
Builds desktop (and mobile) apps from a web frontend plus a Rust backend. It uses the operating system's own webview instead of bundling Chromium, so installers are far smaller than Electron's.
Node.js
Open sourceJavaScript runtime
The server-side JavaScript runtime that most of the web tooling ecosystem is built on. Event-driven and non-blocking, with the broadest package and hosting support of any JS runtime.
Bun
Open sourceAll-in-one JavaScript runtime
A JavaScript runtime that also ships a package manager, bundler, and test runner in one binary. Runs TypeScript directly and aims to be a drop-in replacement for Node.
Python
Open sourceInterpreted general-purpose language
A readable, batteries-included language that dominates data work and machine learning. On the web it shows up as API backends (FastAPI, Django) and anywhere ML models need serving.
Vue.js
Open sourceProgressive frontend framework
A frontend framework built around single-file components (`.vue`) and built-in reactivity. More batteries-included than React out of the box, with an official router and state library.
Svelte / SvelteKit
Open sourceCompiled UI framework
Svelte compiles components into small imperative JavaScript at build time instead of shipping a virtual-DOM runtime. SvelteKit is its full-stack framework with routing, SSR, and deployment adapters.
Next.js
Open sourceReact meta-framework
The most widely used React framework, maintained by Vercel. Adds file-based routing, server rendering, static generation, React Server Components, and API routes on top of React.
C# / .NET
Open sourceCompiled object-oriented platform
Microsoft's cross-platform runtime and C# language, open source and running on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Strong for large backends, desktop apps, and games through Unity.