Rete.js
Create node-based visual programming interfaces
FreeFrameworkNoCodeOpen Source26,471 impressions#12 of its week1 comment
Rete.js is a TypeScript-first framework for building node-based visual programming editors and processing graphs.
- for
- Developers building custom visual editors, dataflow tools, or graph-based applications.
- pricing
- open source
- license
- MIT
Key features
- TypeScript-first API — Provides strong typing and IDE support for easier development and maintenance.
- Engine for graph processing — Includes modules to execute dataflow and control-flow graphs directly.
- Plugin architecture — Allows customization of UI and behavior via plugins and extensions.
- Framework integrations — Works with Angular, Vue.js, React.js and other front-end libraries.
- Code generation — Can generate executable code from the visual graph.
- 3D embedding — Supports embedding editors inside 3D scenes for AR/VR interactions.
Use cases
- Designing a visual workflow editor for ETL pipelines
- Creating a node-based shader or audio processing tool
- Building a drag-and-drop UI for configuring AI model pipelines
Rete.js vs alternatives
 Rete.js |  BuildShip |  Fluent CI |  Fastgen |  Craftar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Tailorable node-based visual editors | AI-powered visual backend builder | TypeScript CI/CD pipelines | Webflow-style backend creation | Visual automation widgets |
| Pricing | Open source | Free | Free | Subscription | Subscription |
| DevHunt upvotes | 11 | 118 | 158 | 95 | 62 |
| Launched | Jan 2023 | Jan 2023 | Jan 2024 | Jan 2023 | Jan 2024 |
- Rete.js vs BuildShip: Focuses on AI-driven drag-and-drop backend building, not a generic visual programming framework
- Rete.js vs Fluent CI: Targets CI/CD pipelines written in TypeScript, whereas Rete.js builds visual editors
- Rete.js vs Fastgen: Provides a Webflow-like UI for backend services, not a programmable node editor
- Rete.js vs Craftar: Offers visual automation widgets, not a full-featured node-based programming framework
Rete.js FAQ
Is Rete.js written in JavaScript or TypeScript?+
Rete.js is a TypeScript-first framework but can be used from JavaScript as well.
Can I execute the graphs I build with Rete.js?+
Yes, the Engine module lets you process dataflow and control-flow graphs at runtime.
How can I customize the appearance of the editor?+
Rete.js offers a plugin system and supports custom rendering, allowing full visual customization.
Does Rete.js work with popular front-end frameworks?+
It provides integrations for Angular, Vue.js, React.js and can be used with other libraries.
Is there support for generating code from a visual graph?+
Rete.js includes code generation capabilities to export executable code based on the graph.
Can I embed the editor in a 3D environment?+
Yes, Rete.js supports 3D embedding for AR/VR scenarios.
Summarized by DevHunt from retejs.org · Sep 27, 2026. Details may change; check the official site.
