RedwoodGraphQL
A React web framework with an optional GraphQL API, built on Prisma; the README also promotes a newer sibling redwoodjs/graphql
- Stars
- 17.6k
- Forks
- 994
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- TypeScript
- Last update
- 5 days ago
- Type
- Framework
What it is
RedwoodGraphQL is the GraphQL-focused repository of the Redwood web framework, which combines a React frontend, a GraphQL API, and a Prisma-based database layer in one project. The README describes it as opinionated and full-stack, meant to let developers skip picking every tool themselves. The README is mixed: its top section promotes RedwoodSDK, a separate project for Cloudflare, and its later sections describe the Redwood framework and a not-yet-released 'Bighorn' epoch.
- Build a React frontend that talks to a custom GraphQL API backed by Prisma
- Add authentication or a CSS framework with a single command, per the README
- Deploy the same app to serverless providers or traditional servers with few code changes
- Use the built-in Jest, Pino logging, and Storybook setup for testing and UI work
Great for
- Developers building data-driven React apps who want a pre-assembled stack
- Prototypes and hackathons that may grow into larger projects
- Teams that want TypeScript end to end, from router to database
- Developers who want an optional GraphQL API alongside React
Not ideal for
- Someone who only wants a small static site, since the README frames Redwood around data-driven apps
- Non-developers, because it requires React, a database, and command-line setup
- Teams who need the unreleased Bighorn features now, since the README says it has no production release yet
How to get it
- 1
See the README
You'll need: Node.js (version not stated in the README excerpt)
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/redwoodjs/graphql - 2
Run it
- Follow the Quick Start guide linked in the README at redwoodjs.com/docs/quick-start
- Create a new Redwood project using the framework's documented setup command
- Start the development server and open the app in a browser
- Work through the official tutorial linked in the README
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Work through the official Redwood Tutorial to learn the conventions
- Use the built-in Storybook setup to build and review UI components
- Add authentication or Tailwind CSS through the documented single-command setups
- Review the Roadmap page to track where the framework is heading
Downloads
Strengths
- Bundles many common pieces (React, Prisma, Jest, Storybook, GraphQL) into one framework
- Supports TypeScript throughout, with JavaScript also allowed
- Documented tutorial, quick start, and docs site
Trade-offs
- The README's top section and the Bighorn section describe unreleased or different products, which can confuse newcomers
- Opinionated design means you adopt its conventions and stack choices
- The README does not state a clear version roadmap for the GraphQL-specific parts
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| graphql (this) | 17.6k | Framework | intermediate | 5 days ago | Developers building data-driven React apps who want a pre-assembled stack |
| next.js | 143k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers already comfortable with React who want a full framework around it |
| remix | 33.4k | Library | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers who want a framework built on standard Web APIs rather than Node-specific ones |
| payload | 45.6k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers already building with Next.js and React who want a backend without a separate server |
| wasp | 18.8k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers who want to build a full-stack React and Node.js app quickly |
| blitz | 14.1k | Framework | intermediate | 12 months ago | Developers already comfortable with React and Next.js who want more built-in full-stack structure |
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.