Rete.js
A JavaScript framework for building visual node editors and dataflow graphs.retejs/rete
- Stars
- 12.3k
- Forks
- 761
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- TypeScript
- Last update
- 12 days ago
- Type
- Library
What it is
Rete.js is a JavaScript framework for creating visual interfaces and workflows, where users connect nodes on a canvas. It offers ready-made pieces for drawing these graphs with several UI libraries, plus tools for running graphs based on dataflow and control flow. Developers use it when they want a node-based editor inside their own web app.
- Build a node editor where users wire together processing steps
- Create a visual workflow builder with custom node types
- Set up a starter project with the Rete Kit generator for a chosen UI stack
Great for
- Developers adding a node-based visual editor to a web application
- Teams building visual workflow or dataflow tools in JavaScript or TypeScript
- Developers who want to use React, Vue, Angular, or Svelte with a graph editor
Not ideal for
- Non-developers looking for a finished visual programming app; the README describes a framework, not an end-user product
- Projects that need a non-JavaScript stack, since the README only covers JavaScript frameworks
How to get it
- 1
Install with a package manager
You'll need: Node.js
Create a new Rete.js app with Rete Kit
npx rete-kit app - 2
Run it
- Run npx rete-kit app and choose a UI stack (React.js, Vue.js, Angular, or Svelte) and features
- Follow the complete getting-started guide at retejs.org if you prefer manual setup
- Open the examples at retejs.org/examples to see working graphs
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Browse the examples on retejs.org to see working editors before writing your own
- Read the guides section of the docs for graph processing concepts
- Use the Rete Kit generator to start with the features you need
Downloads
Strengths
- Supports several popular UI frameworks (React.js, Vue.js, Angular, Svelte)
- Covers both dataflow and control flow graph processing
- Released under the permissive MIT license
Trade-offs
- The README is brief on details, so you will rely on the external docs for most API work
- Working with it means writing code, so it is not suited to people who want no-code tools
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rete (this) | 12.3k | Library | intermediate | 12 days ago | Developers adding a node-based visual editor to a web application |
| PocketFlow | 11.3k | Library | intermediate | 3 months ago | Developers who want a small, readable LLM framework they can inspect in full |
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.