tools

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 source

Typed 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 source

Memory-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 source

Component-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 source

Cross-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 source

JavaScript 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 source

All-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 source

Interpreted 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 source

Progressive 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 source

Compiled 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 source

React 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 source

Compiled 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.

Databases & backends

Relational, document, embedded, and vector stores, plus the backends and ORMs around them.

Dashboards & UI kits

Pre-assembled admin panels and templates for internal tools and client portals.

CSS & component libraries

Utility-first CSS, headless primitives, and full component design systems.

shadcn/ui

Open source

Copy-into-your-repo components

Not a package you install but a set of React components you copy into your project with a CLI, built on accessible primitives and Tailwind. You own and edit the code directly.

Tailwind CSS

Open source

Utility-first CSS framework

Style directly in markup with small single-purpose classes like `flex`, `px-4`, and `rounded-lg`. Unused classes are stripped at build time, so the shipped CSS stays small.

DaisyUI

Open source

Tailwind component plugin

A Tailwind plugin that adds semantic component classes like `btn`, `card`, and `navbar`, plus themes. Cuts class clutter while keeping Tailwind underneath.

Mantine

Open source

React component library

A batteries-included React library with 100+ components, a hooks package, form management, modals, notifications, and dark mode built in.

Ant Design

Open source

Enterprise React design system

A design system from Ant Group aimed at data-heavy business software, with especially capable tables, trees, filters, and forms.

Radix UI

Open source

Headless accessible primitives

Unstyled React primitives (dialogs, dropdowns, popovers, tabs) that handle focus management, keyboard navigation, and ARIA for you. You bring all the styling.

Headless UI

Open source

Headless accessible components

Tailwind Labs' set of unstyled, accessible components for React and Vue, designed to pair with Tailwind classes.

Vuetify

Open source

Vue component framework

A complete Material Design component framework for Vue, with a broad set of layout and form components.

Dev tooling & AI

Build tools, API styles, containers, and AI coding assistants.

Game development

From browser-first renderers and 2D frameworks to full engines, plus physics, level editors, and free assets.

Three.js

Open source

3D rendering library

The most widely used JavaScript 3D library: scenes, cameras, lights, materials, and loaders over WebGL, with a WebGPU renderer alongside. It renders; physics, input, and game structure are up to you.

React Three Fiber

Open source

React renderer for Three.js

Write Three.js scenes as declarative React components. Pairs with the drei helper library for cameras, controls, loaders, and effects.

Babylon.js

Open source

3D web engine

A full 3D engine started at Microsoft, with physics, a scene inspector, PBR lighting, WebXR, and WebGPU support built in.

PlayCanvas

Open source

3D game engine and editor

A WebGL/WebGPU game engine with a collaborative, browser-based visual editor. Games are built for the web first, with small builds that load fast on mobile.

Phaser

Open source

2D game framework

A full 2D framework for browser games: scenes, sprites, tilemaps, input, audio, cameras, and built-in physics. The default choice for 2D HTML5 games.

PixiJS

Open source

2D rendering engine

A fast 2D renderer for WebGL and WebGPU. It draws sprites, text, and graphics very quickly but isn't a game framework — no built-in physics or scene flow.

Kaplay

Open source

Beginner-friendly 2D library

A small, fun-first JavaScript game library with a component-based API that gets a playable game on screen in a few lines. The community-maintained continuation of Kaboom.js.

Godot

Open source

Full game engine

A complete, MIT-licensed 2D and 3D engine with its own editor and scripting language (GDScript), plus C#. Exports to desktop, mobile, and the web.

Rapier

Open source

Physics engine

A 2D and 3D physics engine written in Rust and shipped to JavaScript as WebAssembly. Deterministic simulation, rigid bodies, joints, and character controllers.

Tiled

Open source

Tilemap level editor

A free desktop editor for tile-based levels. Exports JSON and TMX maps that Phaser, Godot, and most 2D engines can load directly.

AI agent skills

Installable skill folders that teach a coding agent one specific job — design direction, polish, accessibility, design systems.

WWADD — Moves. Stacks. Judgment calls.

FREE REFERENCE · NO LOGIN · NO TRACKING