Wasp
A framework that builds React, Node.js and Prisma web apps from a short declarative spec.
- Stars
- 18.8k
- Forks
- 1.5k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- TypeScript
- Last update
- 4 days ago
- Type
- Framework
What it is
Wasp is a full-stack framework for building JavaScript and TypeScript web apps with React, Node.js and Prisma. You describe the main parts of your app in a short spec file, such as pages, routes, queries and auth, and Wasp generates the front-end, back-end and deployment code. The README says the goal is less boilerplate, with features like login, background jobs, email sending and end-to-end type safety built in.
- Build a todo or dashboard app with email and Google login using the built-in auth
- Define database-backed queries and actions in Node.js and call them from React
- Add background jobs and scheduled work without writing the plumbing yourself
- Deploy a full-stack app with a single CLI command, per the README
Great for
- Developers who want to build a full-stack React and Node.js app quickly
- Small teams or solo builders who prefer convention over configuration
- Developers who already know React and Prisma and want less wiring code
- Teams experimenting with AI coding agents who want a more structured project layout
Not ideal for
- Projects that need a different stack, since the README says it currently focuses on React with TanStack Query, Node.js with Express.js, and Prisma
- Teams that need a framework marked production-stable, since the README describes the project as in beta
- People who want full manual control over every layer of their app architecture
How to get it
- 1
Install with a package manager
You'll need: Node.js
Install the Wasp CLI globally (OSX/Linux/WSL)
npm i -g @wasp/cli@latest - 2
Run it
- Install the Wasp CLI with the command above
- Follow the quick start guide at https://wasp.sh/docs/quick-start to create a new app
- Run the app locally using the commands in the quick start guide
- Explore the TodoApp example in the repo for a complete reference
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Use the built-in auth methods for email and Google instead of writing your own login flow
- Use the entities option on queries so cached data refreshes automatically when related data changes
- Use the AI agent plugins listed in the README with your coding assistant for a better starting point
- Read the generated code in .wasp/ to understand what Wasp creates for you
Downloads
Strengths
- Declarative spec file covers many common full-stack features in very little code
- Generated code is kept in the .wasp/ directory, so you can read what it produces
- MIT licensed and actively maintained, with a large community of stars and a Discord
Trade-offs
- The README says the project is in beta, so breaking changes are expected
- Tied to a specific stack (React, Node.js, Prisma), so other tools are not supported
- Learning the Wasp spec format is an extra layer on top of the libraries it wraps
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| wasp (this) | 18.8k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers who want to build a full-stack React and Node.js app quickly |
| next.js | 143k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers already comfortable with React who want a full framework around it |
| nest | 77k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Teams building larger back-end APIs in TypeScript who want enforced structure |
| graphql | 17.6k | Framework | intermediate | 5 days ago | Developers building data-driven React apps who want a pre-assembled stack |
| blitz | 14.1k | Framework | intermediate | 12 months ago | Developers already comfortable with React and Next.js who want more built-in full-stack structure |
| nuxt | 61k | Library | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers who already know Vue.js and want a structured full-stack setup |
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.