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GraphQL Code Generator

Generates code from your GraphQL schema and queries, using plugins you choose.

GitHub Download release-1792900030432
Stars
11.3k
Forks
1.4k
Licence
MIT
Language
TypeScript
Last update
4 days ago
Type
Dev tool

What it is

GraphQL Code Generator reads your GraphQL schema and the GraphQL queries, mutations, and subscriptions your app uses, then writes code from them in the format you pick. Output is controlled by plugins, and you can write your own plugins for custom output. It is aimed at both frontend and backend developers.

  • Generate TypeScript types from a GraphQL schema
  • Generate typed code for queries and mutations used by your frontend
  • Run the interactive init command to set up a config file step by step
  • Write a custom plugin to generate output your project needs

Great for

  • Frontend developers who want typed code for GraphQL queries
  • Backend teams who want code generated from their schema
  • Teams using TypeScript, React, or Angular with GraphQL
  • Developers who need custom output formats via their own plugins

Not ideal for

  • People who do not use GraphQL, since the tool only works from a GraphQL schema
  • Projects that need a fully turnkey app, because it only generates code and does not build the app for you
Step-by-step guide: how to use GraphQL Code GeneratorInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs
GraphQL Code Generator alternativesGraphQL Code Generator vs StorybookGraphQL Code Generator vs Mitosis

How to get it

  1. 1

    Install with a package manager

    You'll need: Node.js · pnpm

    Install GraphQL peer dependency

    pnpm add graphql

    Install the CLI as a dev dependency

    pnpm add -D @graphql-codegen/cli

    Run the interactive setup

    pnpm graphql-codegen init
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Install graphql and @graphql-codegen/cli with pnpm
    • Run pnpm graphql-codegen init and answer the questions about schema, plugins, and output file
    • Run the generator using the config created by init
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Use the interactive init command to create a starting config
    • Browse the official plugins list to pick output formats for your stack
    • Try the live demo in the browser to see example output before installing

Downloads

Source code (.zip)master branch · straight from GitHubRelease release-1792900030432Release notes and sourceOfficial website & docsthe-guild.dev/graphql/codegen/

Strengths

  • Flexible plugin system, with both maintained plugins and community ones
  • Works with many languages and frameworks, as listed in the README
  • Has an interactive setup command (init) that guides you through configuration

Trade-offs

  • Setup involves choosing plugins and config, which can take some learning
  • The README is truncated here, so detailed plugin options are not covered in this entry
  • Release has no downloadable binaries; it is installed as an npm package

How it compares

ProjectStarsTypeLevelUpdatedBest for
graphql-code-generator (this)11.3kDev toolintermediate4 days agoFrontend developers who want typed code for GraphQL queries
apollo-server14kLibraryintermediate5 days agoNode.js developers who want to add a GraphQL API to an existing Express, Koa or Hapi app
NativeScript25.7kFrameworkintermediate4 days agoJavaScript or TypeScript developers who want to build native iOS or Android apps
gqlgen10.8kLibraryintermediate8 days agoGo developers building a new GraphQL API
storybook91.4kDev toolintermediate4 days agoFrontend teams building a shared component library or design system
mitosis14.5kDev toolintermediate8 days agoTeams maintaining the same UI components across more than one framework

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.